Indeed. And before the software developers get overly ornery about not being able to email binaries to each other, or code trees that contain binaries, I will happily recommend Sourceforge to them. (www.sf.net)
~ Wizardry Dragon
Re:Haven't we seen this sort of thing before?
on
Why Vista Won't Suck
·
· Score: 1
No unsigned drivers = no Omega ATI drivers = no $$ for Microsoft for me.
Just looking at the current situation, it's obvious, to me at least, that the motive is plain and simple censorship; the government is finding they cannot censor the normal internet effectively, and the US government is taking companies to task that have allowed the Chineese government to participate in such censorship, and thus the government is going to construct their own 'sandbox' and presumably force the populace to play in that sandbox, and ONLY that sandbox.
I'd hardly call it the end of the internet; China may be a lot of people, but EVERYONE ELSE is a lot of people too.
You -obviously- haven't ever had to call Microsoft support.
Although, I feel bad for the poor support guy in that instance. My father, bless his soul, didn't let that guy insult him. HELPFUL TIP: Don't insult a drill sargeant unless you're willing to get an earful.
Then I commend you. You have a good point though: game developers -are- getting a lot smarter and a lot more aware of writing for multiple operating systems. It may and probably will soon come to pass that the majority of games written will work in multiple operating systems soon enough, my point is that it has not yet reached an acceptable level there; *nux-supporting commercial games are still in the minority.
If you know what you're doing, creating a dual or multiple partition hard drive isn't that hard at all. I was doing it back when I was a freckle-faced 12 year old, and I'm sure I'm -not- the only computer geek out there. FDisk can do it pretty easy if you know how, as can Disk Druid; but if you're green, I even had the administration at my high school on Linux after showing them how to dual partition a hdd using PartitionMagic.
There's tons of stuff out there, and tons of documentation. It's easy enough if you RTFM before you try ^_~
Pro Open Source =/= Pro Linux. Come on, even -I- could figure that one out, hehe.
I hardly think that it's that hard to switch to Linux and be effective. I -DO- think that it's far too hard to get games to work on Linux however. While there are some older games and engines for older games that work on linux (such as Exult http://exult.sf.net/ ) it's currently far too hard to get most commercial games to run on Linux; developers rely far too much on DirectWhatachamadoers (TM) to do everything, instead of writing modular, portable code, they're writing code specifically for one system, without the required modularity to port to other systems.
Before someone mentions WINE, WINE is a great too to port SOURCE CODE to Linux, but trying to run BINARIES with it is a painfully hit and miss matter. And WINE doesn't work for everything - just look at Kylix (although I applaud Borland for being the only big commerical programming language developer I know of that tried to provide a viable programming environment for another platform.)
If that was the most innovative, I'd pray you don't show me the least. HL2 was a glorified graphics engine with some nice physics attached. The story was lukewarm - even Doom3 delved deeper into the story then HL2, and Doom doesnt exactly have a reputation for deep stories. And the multiplayer was a complete rehash of the Steam thingy.
Half-Life 2 was just -another- example of the shovelware sequel industry if you ask me.
Now, that's not to say it isn't a decent game - but the entire point of the game, of making it, and of playing it, is that it is a sequel to Half-Life. Am I the only one that sees something wrong in that? We should play games because they are quality, engaging games, not because they are part of the latest fad:/
On the topic of those who believe Appolo was a 'hoax' I have never ceased to be amazed by people's ability to believe in completely radiculous things, even in the face fo a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Did they land on the moon? They did. It's not a matter of belief but of fact. On the other hand, do I ascribe the world-shaking importance to it that many do? No. It may have been a big step for man, but even a big step, is just a step. We're forever expanding our horizons in science, this probe is just another part of it. All of the events which happen to further it are but single links in a chain, neither more or less important than the other, for, without one of these important steps, the ones after it could not have happened.
No, it's a politicized issue as soon as they put 'rights' in the title, after all, 'rights' are something granted by a political and legal document that the American forefathers crafted, and it's interpretation is something controlled by politicians and lawmakers.
Is it? What a lot of people here don't seem to realize is that you *can* sign away your rights in a contract, and a Terms of Service agreement *is* a contract.
Now, IANAL, but the laws of Canada do not apply in this situation. Blizzard is located in the US, and a clause in their TOS *explicilty* states that any TOS dispute shall be governed by the laws of the United States (although I forgot the specific state).
Also, I can refuse to serve whomsoever I please that breaks any rules or regulations of my establishment. The fact that the member was a member of the 'glbt' community is a straw man argument. They broke the rules, and they paid the price. They advertised for a guild in a public channel where guilds of any political nature are disallowed from recruiting. Whereas this rule is applied somewhat consitently, not just among glbt players, it is not discriminatory and therefore, not illegal.
A place that the public has access to does not constitute a 'public' facility. Your definition doesn't agree with law. For example, an airport and airplane are both areas to which the public are granted access, but under screening, no different than Blizzard's screening, the target is simply different: the screening at airports is towards Islamic Extremists, the screening in Blizzard's case is towards a 'glbt' player that could not disassociate reality from the world of the computer, or follow the rules they agreed to by 'signing' the TOS, a requirement to play.
You're comparing real life to the internet, which is obviously problem at the crux of this whole matter. As I see it, the whole thing comes out of a 'glbt' gamer being unable to disassociate gaming from reality.
IANAL, but I believe the balance of the judge's decision was either you let her on the bus to sit wheresoever she wants, or you don't let her on at all. You cannot disciminate in the type of service you offer one group. You can, however, chose to refuse to serve a certain group. It works both ways, however, you cannot deny one group a service and then give another a better service.
To summarize my thoughts more clearly: the balance of the matter is that, so long as you're not playing 'favourites', it's alright.
To provide a more extreme example, I have a right not to want to serve a man who comes into my restaurant with a ski mask and AK-47. As long as I refuse that 'customer' service as well as the Italian mafia enforcer with the guns, I'm fine:P
IANAL, but the definition of public is something around the lines of 'an open and freely available service provided by state or federal autorities and protected by law.' (Not free as in beer, folks)
Now AFAIK, a MMORPG service is not offered by state or federal authorities, nor is it freely available, nor is it open.
IANAL, but by refusing to take your money, they can refuse your service. That just seems commonsense to me.
As well, as I stated in another comment, IANAL, but I'm fairly sure your right to freely associate does not extend to a right to freely associate on someone's private gaming service.
As I stated before, I do not *personally* agree with Blizzard's policy - but it's their service, and if you disagree so strongly with their policies, then vote with your dollars and hit Blizzard where it hurts - their wallet.
Also, IANAL, but your right to freely associate does not gaurantee you the right to freely associate on someone's private service.
There is no 'private property' unless you form your own country. Otherwise all land is the soveriegn territory of the country that your in, regardless of whether you 'purchased' it or not.
Slashdot Mirror
Indeed. And before the software developers get overly ornery about not being able to email binaries to each other, or code trees that contain binaries, I will happily recommend Sourceforge to them. (www.sf.net)
~ Wizardry Dragon
No unsigned drivers = no Omega ATI drivers = no $$ for Microsoft for me.
Just looking at the current situation, it's obvious, to me at least, that the motive is plain and simple censorship; the government is finding they cannot censor the normal internet effectively, and the US government is taking companies to task that have allowed the Chineese government to participate in such censorship, and thus the government is going to construct their own 'sandbox' and presumably force the populace to play in that sandbox, and ONLY that sandbox.
I'd hardly call it the end of the internet; China may be a lot of people, but EVERYONE ELSE is a lot of people too.
You -obviously- haven't ever had to call Microsoft support.
Although, I feel bad for the poor support guy in that instance. My father, bless his soul, didn't let that guy insult him. HELPFUL TIP: Don't insult a drill sargeant unless you're willing to get an earful.
Then I commend you. You have a good point though: game developers -are- getting a lot smarter and a lot more aware of writing for multiple operating systems. It may and probably will soon come to pass that the majority of games written will work in multiple operating systems soon enough, my point is that it has not yet reached an acceptable level there; *nux-supporting commercial games are still in the minority.
If you know what you're doing, creating a dual or multiple partition hard drive isn't that hard at all. I was doing it back when I was a freckle-faced 12 year old, and I'm sure I'm -not- the only computer geek out there. FDisk can do it pretty easy if you know how, as can Disk Druid; but if you're green, I even had the administration at my high school on Linux after showing them how to dual partition a hdd using PartitionMagic.
There's tons of stuff out there, and tons of documentation. It's easy enough if you RTFM before you try ^_~
Pro Open Source =/= Pro Linux. Come on, even -I- could figure that one out, hehe.
I hardly think that it's that hard to switch to Linux and be effective. I -DO- think that it's far too hard to get games to work on Linux however. While there are some older games and engines for older games that work on linux (such as Exult http://exult.sf.net/ ) it's currently far too hard to get most commercial games to run on Linux; developers rely far too much on DirectWhatachamadoers (TM) to do everything, instead of writing modular, portable code, they're writing code specifically for one system, without the required modularity to port to other systems.
Before someone mentions WINE, WINE is a great too to port SOURCE CODE to Linux, but trying to run BINARIES with it is a painfully hit and miss matter. And WINE doesn't work for everything - just look at Kylix (although I applaud Borland for being the only big commerical programming language developer I know of that tried to provide a viable programming environment for another platform.)
~ Wizardry Dragon
But they dont have an electrical charge either.
If that was the most innovative, I'd pray you don't show me the least. HL2 was a glorified graphics engine with some nice physics attached. The story was lukewarm - even Doom3 delved deeper into the story then HL2, and Doom doesnt exactly have a reputation for deep stories. And the multiplayer was a complete rehash of the Steam thingy.
~ Wizardry Dragon
Half-Life 2 was just -another- example of the shovelware sequel industry if you ask me.
:/
Now, that's not to say it isn't a decent game - but the entire point of the game, of making it, and of playing it, is that it is a sequel to Half-Life. Am I the only one that sees something wrong in that? We should play games because they are quality, engaging games, not because they are part of the latest fad
~ Wizardy Dragon
Steam, anyone? Only reason I didn't get HL2, 'tis.
~ Wizardry Dragon
On the topic of those who believe Appolo was a 'hoax'
I have never ceased to be amazed by people's ability to believe in completely radiculous things, even in the face fo a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Did they land on the moon? They did. It's not a matter of belief but of fact. On the other hand, do I ascribe the world-shaking importance to it that many do? No. It may have been a big step for man, but even a big step, is just a step. We're forever expanding our horizons in science, this probe is just another part of it. All of the events which happen to further it are but single links in a chain, neither more or less important than the other, for, without one of these important steps, the ones after it could not have happened.
~ Wizardry Dragon
Yay for overpriced cameras! ^_~
... on the moon. oO
Seriously though, who decided to call it a 'Lunar Reconaissance Rover'? Makes it sound as if we're spying
~ Wizardry Dragon
No, it's a politicized issue as soon as they put 'rights' in the title, after all, 'rights' are something granted by a political and legal document that the American forefathers crafted, and it's interpretation is something controlled by politicians and lawmakers.
~ Wizardry Dragon
Is it? What a lot of people here don't seem to realize is that you *can* sign away your rights in a contract, and a Terms of Service agreement *is* a contract.
~ Wizardry Dragon
Indeed, you are not gauranteed protection against discrimination by sexual orientation, and even merital status.
The Naval Forces here in Canada, given a single applicant and a married applciant of the same status, has almsot always taken the single one.
~ Wizardry Dragon
Now, IANAL, but the laws of Canada do not apply in this situation. Blizzard is located in the US, and a clause in their TOS *explicilty* states that any TOS dispute shall be governed by the laws of the United States (although I forgot the specific state).
Also, I can refuse to serve whomsoever I please that breaks any rules or regulations of my establishment. The fact that the member was a member of the 'glbt' community is a straw man argument. They broke the rules, and they paid the price. They advertised for a guild in a public channel where guilds of any political nature are disallowed from recruiting. Whereas this rule is applied somewhat consitently, not just among glbt players, it is not discriminatory and therefore, not illegal.
~ Wizardry Dragon
A place that the public has access to does not constitute a 'public' facility. Your definition doesn't agree with law. For example, an airport and airplane are both areas to which the public are granted access, but under screening, no different than Blizzard's screening, the target is simply different: the screening at airports is towards Islamic Extremists, the screening in Blizzard's case is towards a 'glbt' player that could not disassociate reality from the world of the computer, or follow the rules they agreed to by 'signing' the TOS, a requirement to play.
~ Wizardry Dragon
Straw man argument, anyone?
You're comparing real life to the internet, which is obviously problem at the crux of this whole matter. As I see it, the whole thing comes out of a 'glbt' gamer being unable to disassociate gaming from reality.
~ Wizardry Dragon
IANAL, but I believe the balance of the judge's decision was either you let her on the bus to sit wheresoever she wants, or you don't let her on at all. You cannot disciminate in the type of service you offer one group. You can, however, chose to refuse to serve a certain group. It works both ways, however, you cannot deny one group a service and then give another a better service.
:P
To summarize my thoughts more clearly: the balance of the matter is that, so long as you're not playing 'favourites', it's alright.
To provide a more extreme example, I have a right not to want to serve a man who comes into my restaurant with a ski mask and AK-47. As long as I refuse that 'customer' service as well as the Italian mafia enforcer with the guns, I'm fine
~ Wizardry Dragon
IANAL, but the definition of public is something around the lines of 'an open and freely available service provided by state or federal autorities and protected by law.' (Not free as in beer, folks)
Now AFAIK, a MMORPG service is not offered by state or federal authorities, nor is it freely available, nor is it open.
~ Wizardry Dragon
O:
An understanding Slashdotter. *rubs eyes* *pinches self*
~ Wizardry Dragon
IANAL, but by refusing to take your money, they can refuse your service. That just seems commonsense to me.
As well, as I stated in another comment, IANAL, but I'm fairly sure your right to freely associate does not extend to a right to freely associate on someone's private gaming service.
~ Wizardry Dragon
As I stated before, I do not *personally* agree with Blizzard's policy - but it's their service, and if you disagree so strongly with their policies, then vote with your dollars and hit Blizzard where it hurts - their wallet.
Also, IANAL, but your right to freely associate does not gaurantee you the right to freely associate on someone's private service.
~ Wizardry Dragon
There is no 'private property' unless you form your own country. Otherwise all land is the soveriegn territory of the country that your in, regardless of whether you 'purchased' it or not.
~ Wizardry Dragon