RockyRan

Got it yesterday. Started playing, everything's fine. I do have to say I THINK the disc drive is far quieter than it usually is when you read games from the disk (don't have Reach installed just yet), but other than that it's all a-OK. I might post some impressions later on Reach itself in the Halo topic.

I swear to god I hadn't facepalmed the way I did the past month or so reading the comments on various articles surrounding this issue. I don't know what it was about this lawsuit that just melted everyone's brains. Everyone talked in hyperbole, made the most idiotic analogies and just as often started to argue about the analogies themselves, wished death on Hotz and destruction of Sony. Even Anon's involvement was half-assed, largely inconsequential, and poorly thought out. For one, there's the disappointment that there's no verdict. I guess people don't know most lawsuits are settled rather than seen to the end, but in this case everyone wanted somebody to "die". I did kind of enjoy seeing all the people pretending how it was poised to be a historical suit, talking about "precedent" and "history in the making" but it kind of got sad afterward. People really started to have delusions here, especially Hotz' "rabid following of children" as you put it. It's like these people were living in an alternate reality where life is a perpetual made-for-TV adventure film with cackling twirly-mustache villains and dashing underdog heroes. I read the updates to the lawsuit and I only saw some company suing your typical basement-dwelling hacker. I really didn't see the need to elevate the whole situation into something far extraordinary than it already was, but eh. I guess said followers like to play like their personal concerns are of utmost importance, but Jesus they took the phrase "rose-tinted glasses" to a new level. I mean, of course this is a problem with the internet as a whole (considering people who you'd think would literally die defending their console of choice), but I saw this especially concentrated around this particular lawsuit. Glad to see it's all more or less worked itself out, and hey, nobody died and no corporations imploded Shinra-style. I guess life IS more boring than them vidya games, huh? I would stick around to find out how Hotz tries to explain the settlement to the people who donated to his lawsuit expenses, considering how he specifically went out of his way to specify exactly what he would demand if he were to reach a settlement (demands like the re-implementation of OtherOS and the availability to write as much homebrew as he and any other person desires) when he put up the donation page, but this whole thing has made me so sick from start to finish I don't think I can stomach another minute of this display.

I guess we can just agree to disagree. I do get where you're coming from, though, don't get me wrong.

Wii Sports is deeper than you think it is. Spend a few hours in tennis and that's obvious. Regardless, some of that is subjective, but Galaxy's and TP's motion-sensing (and pointing by the way, an equally integral feature of the system) are both done quite well, subtle as they may be sometimes. As for the 3DS, MottZilla gives some good examples of improvements above. The ability to switch out of games on the fly, the Virtual Console, the more robust download store, a completely new OS that by all accounts operates much more smoothly, vastly superior rendering capabilities, an analog stick, a higher resolution screen, an accelerometer and a gyroscope, better friends list management, an internet browser, cameras & SD card storage (for those of us not yet on DSi), and an improved online experience all add to the package. If the 3DS isn't your thing, that's cool, but I find it hard to believe you don't see "any [improvements] whatsoever" unless you're just intentionally ignoring or downplaying them (especially since you put forward XBOX Live as an integral 360 improvement.) *sigh* I'm talking real improvements. We could sit here and argue until we're blue on the face and count even the tiniest, most insignificant change and addition an "improvement" (including things added as far bas the DSi now? I must say you sound a bit grasping here). I'm talking a significant improvement. Look at what the changes were from the GBA to the 3DS. An entirely new method of input as well as a radically different display method that was actually used very well by first parties, leading third parties into creative, meaningful implementation of said improvements. I would definitely like to hear how adding internet browsers and SD card storages do any of that. I'm talking significant changes to gameplay-altering aspects to the overall experience, not things like "switching applications on the fly". Those are tweaks, not significant improvements. I look at Pilotwings Resort and see nothing that couldn't have been done on DS hardware not counting pure graphical fidelity. Grab a game like Henry Hatsworth and try to fit it on a GBA and see what you get. I'm still not sure why we're arguing XBox Live's integral importance and significance to the 360 platform. You do realize LIVE has provided a very significant (read: IMPORTANT) changes to the gameplay experiences on the platform, no? If you have a hard time seeing this, compare the Xbox 1's and 360's library and see the vast differences in gameplay afforded by the integral implementation of online. You can't possibly compare that to the changes meant to be significant (read: not "better resolution on the 3DS screens") brought in the 3DS.

The reason they made it optional is because games that don't use it at all can use the consoles horsepower to look better. Also it has motion controls and using that with 3D wouldn't work. Doesn't solidify it as a gimmick at all. That's like saying anything on any console that doesn't force itself on all games is a gimmick which is ridiculous thinking. Not "anything on any console", the single biggest selling point of the system. The kind of lethargy surrounding statements like "we're not going to make games specifically for this feature", especially for Nintendo, doesn't bode well. Even with the Wii, which they at least went to some lengths to make games specifically surrounding motion controls, third parties couldn't be arsed to make a good game with good motion controls because Nintendo couldn't be arsed to do it themselves. Even their best games either used them very lightly or not at all. I still firmly stand by my "gimmick" assessment. For this specific implementation of the 3D, there's nothing that leads me to believe that it will be used for anything but cherry-on-top eyecandy. Sorry, but this argument is entirely inconsistent if you play any other console. I can't think of a single "selling-point" feature that is mandatory for any game on any system out today. Are 360 games required to use LIVE, a primary feature of the console? Of course not; not every game has multiplayer. Not every PS3 game is required to take full advantage of its Cell processor, which, if Sony is to be believed, is a major selling point of the console. We can only presume that not every NGP game is going to be required to push its hardware to the max, arguably the major reason to buy the handheld. And you know what? Who cares if it's eye candy? That's the entire freakin' point: to look pretty and wow consumers. I can't speak for most people, but I don't expect 3D graphics to revolutionize anything, but rather to augment an enjoyable gaming experience that little bit further. And there is nothing wrong with that. "Gimmick" is just a buzzword hardcore gamers use to make themselves feel less insecure over different demographics enjoying things like motion controls, dancing games, fake-guitarathons, and "casual" smartphone games. No, but if a hardware manufacturer is pushing some new technology, it's in their damn interest to actually take an interest in it. That's why Xbox Live is successful, and why the Cell didn't crash and burn. Had Microsoft's first party games not used XBL at all, or had Sony not used the Cell properly to the point of it hindering the experience, neither of these things would've mattered. That's one thing that Nintendo's getting consistently wrong. They bring in these new features and concepts, never expand on them, then they're surprised why nobody takes advantage of it. Again, it's why pretty much all first party Wii games worth a damn don't use motion sensing at all or only very superficially, and why developers do pretty much exactly the same thing. It's monkey see, monkey do. My point about "eyecandy" is that it won't make a damn difference in gameplay, and what the hell is the point in new hardware if its biggest selling point is literally eyecandy? At least with the 360 and PS3 there were a variety of other features added that actually DID directly affect gameplay (online infrastructure, prersistent statistics, etc.). Alternate Reality games are nice, but they're entirely possible without any 3D at all. There's nothing 3D affects in terms of gameplay. And I repeat, if new hardware comes along that does nothing to improve gameplay, then what's the point of the damn hardware in the first place? Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2, Wii Party, the upcoming Skyward Sword, Metroid Prime 3, and other titles that I don't care to remember right now all use the motion control / pointing technology pretty well. You're also ignoring all the other improvements that the 3DS brings to the gameplay experience above and beyond the 3D; it's not just a DS with 3D tacked on. I don't care enough to argue the point any further, but you can't point at online and other features of other consoles to prove your point while you ignore the 3DS's upgrades (both implemented and coming soon). In any case, and probably slightly more on-topic, I will probably be picking up a 3DS before the holidays. Interested to see what Sony brings to compete as well. Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy barely used motion sensing and is in no way integral to the gameplay structure. The fact that all three of those games can be played entirely on a controller with waggle and tilt mapped to buttons and joysticks should tell you enough. Wii Sports and Resort obviously used motion sensing, but not in a truly revolutionary manner. If you look at the implementation of Wii Sports, it too relied on simple waggle the vast majority of the time. Sports Resort only barely alleviated this. Metroid Prime 3 and Skyward Sword are the only two games I can confidently say actually use it meaningfully, but for a system whose main selling point is motion sensing, two first party games don't really account for that. I would like to hear what purported improvements to the 3DS you claim it brings. I don't see any whatsoever aside from simple gimmicks (yes, I'm using a so-called "forbidden word". Let's forget about Pavlovian hatred for words and actually focus what they mean, shall we?). Regardless of what I'm "ignoring", however, you can't deny the fact that the 3D implementation is the system's biggest selling point, even though said implementation inherently can't affect gameplay in any significant manner. And the 360 has improved gameplay over the original xbox how? The entirety of Xbox Live and the system's easy expandability should be painfully obvious that I shouldn't have to point it out.

Establishment of trust, I guess. The longer the trust, the more they can get away with. Just look at Nintendo, for instance. Half the stuff they release would get completely destroyed by critics and gamers alike if a dev would've released the same game without the well-known IP they carry. The stuff that flat out tanked (like Wii Music) would've gotten 2.0 scores across the board and called "shovelware". Here's another trope that needs to go: locked content that shouldn't even be locked. Mostly in multiplayer games that feature unlocks. Biggest culprit IMO is Bad Company 2. Why the hell I have to play multiple matches without being able to heal at all to "unlock" the healing-related gadgets. How is this in any way helpful? They're FORCING people to be noob scrubs who can't help the team even if they wanted to. It's like "locking" voice chat and having the game micspam for you until you reach a certain level. Never before has a game gone out of its way to make me play like a noob.

The reason they made it optional is because games that don't use it at all can use the consoles horsepower to look better. Also it has motion controls and using that with 3D wouldn't work. Doesn't solidify it as a gimmick at all. That's like saying anything on any console that doesn't force itself on all games is a gimmick which is ridiculous thinking. Not "anything on any console", the single biggest selling point of the system. The kind of lethargy surrounding statements like "we're not going to make games specifically for this feature", especially for Nintendo, doesn't bode well. Even with the Wii, which they at least went to some lengths to make games specifically surrounding motion controls, third parties couldn't be arsed to make a good game with good motion controls because Nintendo couldn't be arsed to do it themselves. Even their best games either used them very lightly or not at all. I still firmly stand by my "gimmick" assessment. For this specific implementation of the 3D, there's nothing that leads me to believe that it will be used for anything but cherry-on-top eyecandy. Sorry, but this argument is entirely inconsistent if you play any other console. I can't think of a single "selling-point" feature that is mandatory for any game on any system out today. Are 360 games required to use LIVE, a primary feature of the console? Of course not; not every game has multiplayer. Not every PS3 game is required to take full advantage of its Cell processor, which, if Sony is to be believed, is a major selling point of the console. We can only presume that not every NGP game is going to be required to push its hardware to the max, arguably the major reason to buy the handheld. And you know what? Who cares if it's eye candy? That's the entire freakin' point: to look pretty and wow consumers. I can't speak for most people, but I don't expect 3D graphics to revolutionize anything, but rather to augment an enjoyable gaming experience that little bit further. And there is nothing wrong with that. "Gimmick" is just a buzzword hardcore gamers use to make themselves feel less insecure over different demographics enjoying things like motion controls, dancing games, fake-guitarathons, and "casual" smartphone games. No, but if a hardware manufacturer is pushing some new technology, it's in their damn interest to actually take an interest in it. That's why Xbox Live is successful, and why the Cell didn't crash and burn. Had Microsoft's first party games not used XBL at all, or had Sony not used the Cell properly to the point of it hindering the experience, neither of these things would've mattered. That's one thing that Nintendo's getting consistently wrong. They bring in these new features and concepts, never expand on them, then they're surprised why nobody takes advantage of it. Again, it's why pretty much all first party Wii games worth a damn don't use motion sensing at all or only very superficially, and why developers do pretty much exactly the same thing. It's monkey see, monkey do. My point about "eyecandy" is that it won't make a damn difference in gameplay, and what the hell is the point in new hardware if its biggest selling point is literally eyecandy? At least with the 360 and PS3 there were a variety of other features added that actually DID directly affect gameplay (online infrastructure, prersistent statistics, etc.). Alternate Reality games are nice, but they're entirely possible without any 3D at all. There's nothing 3D affects in terms of gameplay. And I repeat, if new hardware comes along that does nothing to improve gameplay, then what's the point of the damn hardware in the first place?

Good lord, it "only" took them what, 3 days to figure it out? And how long did it take all of us to figure out the same thing? This particular Anon is stupider than I gave them credit for (and I thought they were stupid in the first place). Hopefully their household runs out of Hot Pockets before they come up with another one of these "genius" tactics to "fight the man".

If you're worried about giving credit where it's due, I'm linking to the video Egoraptor uploaded himself.

ATTEN-SHUN! They've already given out the dealio on who's getting in and who isn't. http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/xbox-dashboard-beta-rolls-out-isnt-that-exciting-yet/ If you signed up and want to check: -Go here: http://connect.microsoft.com/?lc=1033 -Sign in -Click on "Directory" at the top right -You'll get a huge list of all the previews Microsoft has going. Click on "Xbox LIVE Update". For me it wasn't that far down the list -Under "Announcements" you should see which group you're in. Keep in mind: I got in and I'm a Silver/Cheapskate/WhateverMicrosoftCallsItNow memeber. MS said priority would be given to Gold Members first, so if you signed up and are a Gold member you're obviously in. And of course, because this is obligatory:

Exactly my thoughts from top to bottom. The Anon crap is a misguided protest at its purest form. Did the idiots even think it through? How are they fighting for pro-consumer rights when their actions specifically harm the consumer? Furthermore, how in any way does this impact the Sony v. Hotz case at all? If anything, it proves Sony's point. Go after hackers and they get so pissy that other "hackers" (or rather, DDoS script kiddies, which I wouldn't exactly call a "hacker") do things that ARE actually illegal. Another thing, I really, truly wish some people would stop with the "good vs. evil" mentality (I'm talking in general. I'm not directing this at anyone specifically on this board). If you want some true lulz go to any comment section of any Ars Technica article that covers the Sony v. Hotz issue. Rampant, mutantly skewed logic left and right. Horrendous analogies trying to describe their viewpoints ("lulz if i buy a car and open teh hoodz but not without the express permission but with a land deed and if i have a herd of sheep stowed in mah trunk who iz sony to tell meh i cant?!?!?!"). Dozens of people loudly proclaiming they'll boycott any and all Sony products (with each and every new article on this issue, mind you. And this isn't just saying "I don't feel like supporting them anymore". I'm talking really obnoxious shit here). Cherrypicking shady actions from Sony's lawyers while conveniently forgetting or rationalizing shady actions from Hotz' side. And above all, a completely infantile viewpoint on "Good vs. Evil". To them, Sony is nothing short of Sauron and Hotz is nothing short of Jesus. I mean, it's like they're living in their own fairytale land over there. If you want lulz I highly suggest going there. But enough ranting about Ars commenters. My big beef is how the internet collectively decides to turn this into a black-and-white battle against "TEH EVIL FAESLESS CORPORATIONS". Because really, why even bother making rational arguments supporting your side when you can just paint the other side as an puppy-killing necromancer? It's just...GOD. Here's the thing. There's no "good", there's no "evil", there's no black and there's no white. Both Hotz' and Sony's lawyers have used some pretty underhanded tactics to stall or skew the court decision, because this is how the real world works. I mean, I'm not trying to do the usual "lulz all lawyerz be shadee", I'm just saying it's not like Hotz hasn't exactly been an angel this whole time. Lawsuits are always like this. Furthermore, there are both pros AND cons to either outcome for us the consumer. I still can't make up my mind with a rational decision to support Sony or Hotz, because they both bring their own pros and cons to me as a consumer. But that's just me. I definitely don't condone anyone who sides with either one. I respect people's opinions when they actually have good reasons but holy shit are a lot of people stupid. They just hear of Sony suing a hacker and instantly a Pavlovian hatred for "teh faesless corporashuns" kicks in. All logic and reasoning be damned, we MUST support the underdog no matter how sleazy he may be!

Well my already-aged, it's-cheap-anyway mouse decided to act up these past few days, so there's my fascination with mice I do want something definitely aimed on the gaming side. I'm looking at this but I'm not sure if it's good for that purpose? http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Performance-Optical-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B0007Z1M50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302052632&sr=8-1

So my current mouse is starting to crap out and I have no backup, so I thought this'd be a great time to invest in a real gaming mouse. Of course, I'm a cheapskate so I'm obviously not looking for a $200 OMGWTFBBQBESTTHINGEVAR mouse, but something along the lines of $40. Is it possibul?

Sometimes. If the class is crappy enough, the morning of a test that I haven't studied for I usually panic and go on a last-minute study cram rush. It's at that rare time that I absorb everything I read (as opposed to pretty much every other second ), and sometimes I just HAPPEN to go over the same questions that are on the test. It's amazing when that happens but it doesn't happen often.

Right now something happened that was wholly indicative of my biggest problem: rampant, mutant procrastination. So I'm sitting here with my programming assignment due tomorrow midnight half finished, with a bunch of errors that I have no idea what they mean or what to do to fix them, and all of a sudden I remember the fact that I have several hours in the morning to work on this as well as a help session. I know this isn't too much time and the errors could probably take days to complete, but knowing that I have a seizable pool of time makes me think "It's OK, I don't actually have to work on this at all" and I got a euphoric feeling. That's right, my procrastination is so bad I'm actually getting highs from doing it. Kill me now.

The reason they made it optional is because games that don't use it at all can use the consoles horsepower to look better. Also it has motion controls and using that with 3D wouldn't work. Doesn't solidify it as a gimmick at all. That's like saying anything on any console that doesn't force itself on all games is a gimmick which is ridiculous thinking. Not "anything on any console", the single biggest selling point of the system. The kind of lethargy surrounding statements like "we're not going to make games specifically for this feature", especially for Nintendo, doesn't bode well. Even with the Wii, which they at least went to some lengths to make games specifically surrounding motion controls, third parties couldn't be arsed to make a good game with good motion controls because Nintendo couldn't be arsed to do it themselves. Even their best games either used them very lightly or not at all. I still firmly stand by my "gimmick" assessment. For this specific implementation of the 3D, there's nothing that leads me to believe that it will be used for anything but cherry-on-top eyecandy.

For me it's two things: Video games, money. Money probably being the bigger one. Try to scam me out of my money and I will seriously hurt you. But yes, I completely agree with your approach. I don't go out of my way to bother anyone, but if they personally offend me shit will go down until they back the hell off and don't even think about doing anything to bother me again. I'd contact the RA and force a hall meeting like you did. If that didn't work, I'd do it again. If that still didn't work, I'd keep contacting whoever's further up the authority chain and get the people who have a problem with it (like your RA) directly involved. I don't have any stories of my own. I live at home and don't have to worry about shithead roommates or anything like that. It's actually dead quiet 99% of the time. Knowing horror stories of how terrible rooommates can be, I don't think I'd ever room with anyone if I can help it.

Kind of reminds me of something:

I always hope that at least one game can bring Liam Neeson, Ian McKellen, and Morgan Freeman as three sage-like wizards that will sweetly caress your ears with foreboding warnings and disturbingly calming advice. My face would probably melt. Literally. Though I do find it charming in a decidedly old-school fashion how Bethesda gets famous people to say like 2 lines at the beginning of the movie. Takes me back to the days when WRPGs blew off like half their budget in this crazy, super awesome spectacular extravaganza with crazy effects and loud booming voice acting for like five seconds, then the rest of the game has comparatively shitty graphics and twingy soundblaster synths blaring through the speakers the rest of the time.

I signed up and I'm on the Cheap Bastard Who Refuses to Pay for Live plan (or whatever it is Microsoft is calling Silver now). Wonder if I'll get in. Maybe I'll get a "give us your money nao" e-mail instead.

Honestly, I hope they don't release all that much info until the time of the launch. They already released pretty much all the info I ever need (some light details on the new engine, story, gameplay, etc.) anymore and it starts to ruin the surprise IMO.

Let's see...games I sorta finished this year: Crysis Warhead Bad Company 2 single player BioShock 1 ModNation Racers career mode Henry Hatsworth: Puzzling Adventure I have to say, I'm not being nearly as productive this year as I was last year (beat like 24 games then)

I think 3D+headtracking could provide devs with some great ideas to work with, but of course the 3DS's viewing angle is like 2 degrees on either side, which kind of throws it into the "eyecandy gimmick" category instead. Plus, considering how Nintendo strictly said they won't make games that absolutely require 3D due to not everyone being able to see it, it pretty much solidifies the 3D on the handheld being a gimmick. Like, forever. So yeah. A bit paradoxical if you think about it. The 3D was obviously the biggest selling point, yet it's crippled to being just a gimmick. Turn off the 3D and you have a souped up DS with an analog stick. As a DSi owner I can't possibly think of a single reason to own a 3DS. To tell you the truth if I wanted a "new and shiny" handheld I'd pick the NGP any day of the week. Considering the fact that the 3DS's games are going to start being all console-like instead of portable-pick-up-and-play I figure I might as well just go all out and get the handheld that will obviously excel in portable-console-like features. Then again I don't plan to get THAT for a few years... ...anyway, I'm totally rambling. Away!

Went to a Best Buy to try it out. Wasn't impressed. I mean, the system worked and the 3D effect definitely gave it depth, but it wasn't anything that would compel me to drop $250 on it, especially when I bought a PS3 for $50 more over a year ago. At the end of the day, I have to ask myself how 3D could advance gameplay and I can't think of a reason why it would advance it in any significant way. The only thing it really changes is that now it's easier to judge distances, but how important is that, really? Wasn't planning to buy it anytime soon, but seeing the demo unit certainly didn't do anything to try to convince me otherwise.