If you JUST got the update then as of last night you didn't have the update to allow you to do background downloads. It wasn't released until this morning so expecting to be able to use a feature of the update before you got the update is just silly
The whole "Xbox Dashboard" is stored like a bios on one of the motherboard's chips, that way even consoles without a hard drive will still run properly (it also makes it harder to hack). Also IIRC it includes a non-flashable portion containing a recovery bios so if say the power were to go out the console can still recover itself and attempt the update again.
They could easily get around that by just offering the Divx codec for download through the Xbox Live Marketplace. People who wanted it could buy the codec, people who don't want it don't have to pay the extra fees... everyone is happy (well except the MPAA but their happiness doesn't count)
No idea how nintendo's service will pan out but Sony's "Free Service" doesn't actually include online play (don't believe me? GO READ IT). Basically they're offering the same thing MS does with their free Silver level service. Sony's strategy seems to still be "just let the developers handle it". And if previous consoles are any indication it means half the games will have free service on crappy overloaded servers and the other half will charge game specific monthly fees, costing more for a single game then Xbox Live does for everything.
huh... Well I haven't touched one in over 2 years now so maybe my memory is a little foggy. The one at the arcade I worked at was an older DDR2 machine imported from Korea that had just been converted to whatever the latest was at the time.
It looked very similar to the one in your post except for the sensors which were just white rubber strips. I also seem to remember that whole area shown in white being made of wood. Maybe the older ones were built a little different, maybe my memory isn't as good as it once was...
regardless I think it's pretty clear that this DIY pad isn't even close to the real thing.
Having worked as an arcade technician and torn apart a REAL DDR pad... I can tell you that this "better then" project is no where near the quality of the real deal.
The real DDR pads are constructed of wood for a good natural overall springiness, then covered in sheet metal for durability. The buttons use presser sensors as opposed to mechanical contacts, so there's no actual movement to them (and they can go for years of abuse without wearing out because of it). Also each button has 2 sensors for redundancy, only one needs to be tripped to detect a push...
Not to mention the best part of the real machine is that there are no ABXY buttons to accidentally push
It launched with Virtua Fighter... I think that's considered 3D... not to mention the 32X was out long before the saturn with a number of 3D games... There was also the SNES games with the "FX Chip" Stunt Race FX and Start Fox were both fully 3D. The real question is when did Nintendo ANNOUNCE that their console would have 3D games.
Sony also seems to be forgetting that shortly after the N64 launch is when they released the first dual shock controller... hmm lifting Nintendo's ideas isn't even a new concept, lets not forget that the original PSX controller is just a SNES controller with a couple extra shoulders and some handlebars.
How many analysts need to predict an MS handheld before MS either admits they're working on it or the analysts get bored and give up. Seriously if it's already been predicted by someone else is it even still a prediction, or just agreement with a previous prediction?
Besides I don't think MS will be going after a handheld of their own so much as pushing a new universal gaming software. Some form of windows/direct X that they can push to PDA and Cell phone makers. I think they'd want this more from the software angle then the hardware. I have a feeling if they ever did make a handheld it would be some bastardized cell-phone thing along the lines of the N-Gage.
I think you hit the nail square on the head with that one...
The fact that the voter turnout for american idol was far and wide better then that of the last presidential election is proof enough that the REAL election winner is APATHY due to lack of a decent choice.
I'd have to agree. Fight Club is easily one of my favorite movies and Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite authors. I liked the book/movie for a lot of reasons other then the actual "fight club".
Even still when I was in college (RPI) as a freshmen one of my buddies told me one day that some guys in his dorm started a fight club... I didn't believe him till he took me down there and I watched two clumsy nerds slap each other for 5 minutes before getting tired and reaching for their inhalers. This was years ago now... 2000 I believe.
Pretty stupid if you ask me, if you want to fight people take a boxing or martial arts class...
I don't have any problems with the layout so much as the ergonomics of the thing...These are the things I find problematic about it:
1) I despise having the analogs at the center of the controller. They've always been so far in that to push ether of them towards the center I have to physically loosen my grip on the controller and move my hand because my thumb wont reach that far. Considering that there are VERY few games that use the D-pad for anything but an auxiliary function, every year it becomes increasingly ridiculous that the left analog isn't moved to the main position. If they simply swapped the D-Pad and Analog I'd be a whole lot happier with the controller. Honestly the placement of the analogs when they made the dual shock for the PS1 was quite obviously an afterthought, tacking them on to the existing controller so they could compete with Nintendo and Sega who had unveiled their analog controllers. The placement of the sticks should have died with the PS1 because that layout is not optimal at all. (it's understandable that the retro-wii controller would have them there, because again, they're simply tacked on to an existing design. any NEWLY built from the ground up design shouldn't be placing them in the center like that)
2) The 2nd shoulder button is too large. It hangs off the back just enough to force you to put your middle finger up there along with your trigger finger. Even the GC and Xbox 360 controls are setup so you use your trigger fingers. The problem here is once I move my middle finger up there all I have left to hold the controller is my ring finger and my pinky, and if your not use to that they get VERY cramped very fast. If I decide to put my middle finger under it for more support then there isn't enough room back there because they extended the 2nd buttons and my middle fingers get cramped from the 2nd shoulder buttons digging into them. The pre-dual shock didn't have this problem because the 2nd shoulder button didn't stick out as much. Again neither the GC or the 360 controllers have this problem because they were designed to have the user hold the controller with their middle finger as opposed to pushing buttons with it.
3) The overall Shape. Seriously the Playstation controller is made up of various basic shapes, cylinders, cones and rounded boxes. The hands were not made to interface with such basic geometric shapes. The controller is hard and not forgiving to hands that are not use to it. Even if they made a controller with an identical layout but smoother and more ergonomic in SHAPE it would be vastly superior. Despise the flack the boomerang got it looked like a far more comfortable controller then the dual shock. Something you wrap your hands around for that length of time needs to compliment it like a glove.. Honestly using a Playstation controller is like using an ancient mouse. It has the same LAYOUT as modern mice but ergonomically it's completely different.
The PS3 controller is a step in the WRONG direction IMO, no rumble, Motion control is cool but it doesn't belong in a two handed controller IMO, a "wand" shaped controller is the only worth while form for motion sensing. How would you use the PS3 controller as a golf club, bat, sword, gun, etc? it only works for turning and tilting... where a wand is open to just about any movement. And the worst of all is it's still the same non-ergonomic design as the old PS1 dual shock. Aside from the left analog I have no problem with the layout, it's the shape that bothers me most.
It's interesting you comment on the button layout, because thats the ONLY thing I DON'T like about the GC controller. Sure you can hit A and Y but that's really the only advantage IMO... The GC controller just fits comfortably in your hands it's got a better overall ergonomic shape then any other controller I've ever held. I thought the Xbox 1 Controller S was the best until I got the GC, the Xbox 360 controller is vastly superior to the Xbox 1 S but the GC is still more comfortable. Nintendo has a way better D-Pad too it's smaller and it's explicit. if you push up you KNOW you pushed up. the Xbox's D-Pads are all sloppy and if you push up there's a 30% chance you're really pushing up/right... Sony's controller are just a prime example of what NOT to do ergonomically the only people who like it seems to be the ones who have been using it for so long they got used to it.
oh wow I can't believe I forgot that game... I still play it frequently, really it's the only game I wish was on the BC list for Xbox 360... because if it was I could free up some space on my AV rack.
Now that I think of it Deathrow was an awesome 4 player game too but it was a little harder to get into and not very many people have heard of it... if you find it on a bargain rack somewhere pick it up, definitely worth it.
I think you missed the part were we were talking about launch title [b]diversity[b] as opposed to launch title quality.
I agree that Mario64 was an amazing game (I'd even go as far as to call it revolutionary). I don't think the Gamecube's offerings were all that bad. While none of them were as revolutionary as Mario64 the titles available were certainly more diverse. Not to mention (as others have) some of the titles that were released shortly after were smash hits.
Slashdot Mirror
If you JUST got the update then as of last night you didn't have the update to allow you to do background downloads. It wasn't released until this morning so expecting to be able to use a feature of the update before you got the update is just silly
The whole "Xbox Dashboard" is stored like a bios on one of the motherboard's chips, that way even consoles without a hard drive will still run properly (it also makes it harder to hack). Also IIRC it includes a non-flashable portion containing a recovery bios so if say the power were to go out the console can still recover itself and attempt the update again.
They could easily get around that by just offering the Divx codec for download through the Xbox Live Marketplace. People who wanted it could buy the codec, people who don't want it don't have to pay the extra fees... everyone is happy (well except the MPAA but their happiness doesn't count)
Agreed... the $50 is well worth it...
No idea how nintendo's service will pan out but Sony's "Free Service" doesn't actually include online play (don't believe me? GO READ IT). Basically they're offering the same thing MS does with their free Silver level service. Sony's strategy seems to still be "just let the developers handle it". And if previous consoles are any indication it means half the games will have free service on crappy overloaded servers and the other half will charge game specific monthly fees, costing more for a single game then Xbox Live does for everything.
huh... Well I haven't touched one in over 2 years now so maybe my memory is a little foggy. The one at the arcade I worked at was an older DDR2 machine imported from Korea that had just been converted to whatever the latest was at the time.
It looked very similar to the one in your post except for the sensors which were just white rubber strips. I also seem to remember that whole area shown in white being made of wood. Maybe the older ones were built a little different, maybe my memory isn't as good as it once was...
regardless I think it's pretty clear that this DIY pad isn't even close to the real thing.
Exactly... I'd be willing to bet that child also owned... SCHOOL BOOKS!
HO NOS!! teh skols wif books make chilren to killZ!!
*pressure not presser
Having worked as an arcade technician and torn apart a REAL DDR pad... I can tell you that this "better then" project is no where near the quality of the real deal.
The real DDR pads are constructed of wood for a good natural overall springiness, then covered in sheet metal for durability. The buttons use presser sensors as opposed to mechanical contacts, so there's no actual movement to them (and they can go for years of abuse without wearing out because of it). Also each button has 2 sensors for redundancy, only one needs to be tripped to detect a push...
Not to mention the best part of the real machine is that there are no ABXY buttons to accidentally push
well obviously the songs would be for educational purposes
Except for the fact that Tomonobu Itagaki makes good games and knows what he's talking about.
...I don't think Harrison looks as good in sunglass and a leather jacket either.
Maybe a little from column A... a little from column B.
If nothing else the motion control makes for a poor er
GOOD!, yes good excuse as to why it went from shock to shake.
You'll never see GT on anything but a Sony console. Sony owns Polyphony Digital.
It launched with Virtua Fighter... I think that's considered 3D... not to mention the 32X was out long before the saturn with a number of 3D games... There was also the SNES games with the "FX Chip" Stunt Race FX and Start Fox were both fully 3D. The real question is when did Nintendo ANNOUNCE that their console would have 3D games.
Sony also seems to be forgetting that shortly after the N64 launch is when they released the first dual shock controller... hmm lifting Nintendo's ideas isn't even a new concept, lets not forget that the original PSX controller is just a SNES controller with a couple extra shoulders and some handlebars.
You just have to visit the Imperial Library.
Well really that's the only home chemestry that pays.
Something tells me the little old lady next door doesn't need anything titrated.
I for one welcome our ... ah who am I kidding it can't even pour beer properly.
How many analysts need to predict an MS handheld before MS either admits they're working on it or the analysts get bored and give up. Seriously if it's already been predicted by someone else is it even still a prediction, or just agreement with a previous prediction?
Besides I don't think MS will be going after a handheld of their own so much as pushing a new universal gaming software. Some form of windows/direct X that they can push to PDA and Cell phone makers. I think they'd want this more from the software angle then the hardware. I have a feeling if they ever did make a handheld it would be some bastardized cell-phone thing along the lines of the N-Gage.
Actually I vote Libertarian ^_^
I think you hit the nail square on the head with that one...
The fact that the voter turnout for american idol was far and wide better then that of the last presidential election is proof enough that the REAL election winner is APATHY due to lack of a decent choice.
Years = more then one year.
I was attempting to be literal not expressive.
Even still something tells me your child would consider events that happened at age 2 a long time ago.
I'd have to agree. Fight Club is easily one of my favorite movies and Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite authors. I liked the book/movie for a lot of reasons other then the actual "fight club". Even still when I was in college (RPI) as a freshmen one of my buddies told me one day that some guys in his dorm started a fight club... I didn't believe him till he took me down there and I watched two clumsy nerds slap each other for 5 minutes before getting tired and reaching for their inhalers. This was years ago now... 2000 I believe. Pretty stupid if you ask me, if you want to fight people take a boxing or martial arts class...
The PS3 controller is a step in the WRONG direction IMO, no rumble, Motion control is cool but it doesn't belong in a two handed controller IMO, a "wand" shaped controller is the only worth while form for motion sensing. How would you use the PS3 controller as a golf club, bat, sword, gun, etc? it only works for turning and tilting... where a wand is open to just about any movement. And the worst of all is it's still the same non-ergonomic design as the old PS1 dual shock. Aside from the left analog I have no problem with the layout, it's the shape that bothers me most.
It's interesting you comment on the button layout, because thats the ONLY thing I DON'T like about the GC controller. Sure you can hit A and Y but that's really the only advantage IMO... The GC controller just fits comfortably in your hands it's got a better overall ergonomic shape then any other controller I've ever held. I thought the Xbox 1 Controller S was the best until I got the GC, the Xbox 360 controller is vastly superior to the Xbox 1 S but the GC is still more comfortable. Nintendo has a way better D-Pad too it's smaller and it's explicit. if you push up you KNOW you pushed up. the Xbox's D-Pads are all sloppy and if you push up there's a 30% chance you're really pushing up/right... Sony's controller are just a prime example of what NOT to do ergonomically the only people who like it seems to be the ones who have been using it for so long they got used to it.
oh wow I can't believe I forgot that game... I still play it frequently, really it's the only game I wish was on the BC list for Xbox 360... because if it was I could free up some space on my AV rack.
Now that I think of it Deathrow was an awesome 4 player game too but it was a little harder to get into and not very many people have heard of it... if you find it on a bargain rack somewhere pick it up, definitely worth it.
I think you missed the part were we were talking about launch title [b]diversity[b] as opposed to launch title quality.
I agree that Mario64 was an amazing game (I'd even go as far as to call it revolutionary). I don't think the Gamecube's offerings were all that bad. While none of them were as revolutionary as Mario64 the titles available were certainly more diverse. Not to mention (as others have) some of the titles that were released shortly after were smash hits.