Posted 11/22/2009 at 12:12:03am

First off dude, I never attacked you. I just disagreed with you. But I don't have a problem with adding your idea as an option. I think in that way it would be interesting. Those that really wanna play it to the edge, under the threat of great loss, would then be able to do that.

All that I said was that I think many people, us casual gamers, would be turned off if that kind of penalty was the norm. Like it or not casual gamers are the bread and butter of MMOs these days, and developers are going to tailor their game to please the greatest # of people. This is not to say they shouldn't add features that will appeal to the hardcore crowd, but ultimately that will be of a secondary concern. I'm not trying to sound snide or bitchy, just calling it like it is.

As an option I have no issue at all with your idea.

Posted 11/21/2009 at 01:01:17pm

It's called "nearly every other first world country other than the US". Y'know, where citizens of said countries are all guaranteed medical coverage, sick leave pay, and unlimited unemployment benefits? Gosh darn it those wacky socialists! How dare they take care of their tax-paying citizens so well! The US way is soooo much better -- people unnecessarily dying because they don't have health insurance, families with children living in cars and mile long homeless tent villages because of layoffs and home foreclosures. Yes, yes indeed, SO much better, isn't it?

Posted 11/21/2009 at 12:47:43pm

But how is this different than any other MMO? He says that when you die your ship takes damage. Damage I assume takes time to repair.

What happens when you die in WoW? Not much other than some gear damage. CoH? Not much other than a minor loss of XP. This is pretty standard fare.

So by the logic presented by you two, when you die in WoW you should lose all your gear and have to earn it all over again? How much sense does that make?

I think the idea of the ship taking damage over time (like a durability effect) is a good idea. For example, as your ship's durability declines the shields might only charge to 80% instead of 100%, weapons might become less accurate, maneuverability is impaired, etc. This then forces you to periodically visit a starbase for repairs -- just like the in the series/movies. Durability can be lost in small amounts due to simple wear and tear, and greater amounts when you're defeated, much like gear damage in WoW.

But to lose rank, officers, or even your ship when you get defeated?!?! Sorry, that's just crazy.

Posted 11/21/2009 at 12:37:45pm

While I understand where you are coming from, the biggest problem with punitive death is that there is often little one can do to prevent death other than constantly having to tiptoe around the game world, which simply isn't fun.

Some battles are easy, some are hard. And sometimes you get into situations, thru little to no fault of your own, that there is no way to escape from. Then having a serious penalty placed on you isn't going to endear anyone to the game.

Now if it's a matter of playing stupidly or recklessly, then perhaps. But I find that most of the time I die in MMOs is simply due to bad luck -- more a function of the AI, the game's design, or lag than my own skill or playstyle. And who wants to be punished for that?

Posted 11/21/2009 at 11:40:50am

Typical. Apple uses every trick in the book to scam every single penny it can, but when consumers use "loopholes" to jailbreak their phones or create hackintoshes Apple goes all apeshit.

Hypocrisy much Mr. Jobs?

Posted 11/20/2009 at 10:28:16am

Still waiting for BR burners to drop below $100 ($80 would be even better). It's really stupid. Had HD-DVD not folded it would be dirt cheap by now. Sony has no incentive to drop the prices because it has zero competition. The pressed discs are nearly the same price as DVDs now, with most new releases being under $20. There is simply no excuse for hardware prices to be so high, which I guess is why Sony is under investigation for illegal price fixing.

Posted 11/19/2009 at 03:20:33pm

I'd say a device who's primary function is as a general computing device. I wouldn't put an iPhone or iPod (or even a PSP or DS) in that category as their primary functions are a cellphone and music player (and portable gaming devices), respectively. But I would put in something as simple as a calculator. Yes it's functionally limited, but its primary job is to do basic computations.

But this is just my own perception. I guess if you wanted to be a stickler you could say they are all "personal computers" as they are all personal devices (i.e. smaller than a refrigerator) and they all compute. But by that token so would your DVD player, microwave oven, and most coffee makers :)

Posted 11/19/2009 at 09:36:46am

If they can do these starting in the $350 price range AND get 6+ hour battery life I'm all in.

Posted 11/15/2009 at 08:46:09pm

I'm not sure you're all reading this right. The part in question states "to distribute the Software or Hardware in this Pack..." The key is the word distribute. They are saying that you cannot sell or give away the software without including a full computer system. But if you are using the OS for a system you are building yourself for yourself there is no intent to distribute anything.

Nowhere does it state, or even imply, that a system builder can't install the OS on a system they build for their own use. This section only prevents you from giving away (or selling) OEM copies of the OS without a complete computer system.

Also, as defined in the license, "distribute" is "...the point in time when a Customer System leaves your control." Again, if the system never leaves your control there is NO distribution, and therefore section #2 does not apply.

I don't think there is any problem here. Nothing to worry about.

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