random n00b
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I really don't like state-operated healthcare, and I am fully aware that private run businesses of any sort always are more efficient than their state-run counterparts (since it's difficult to be less efficient). However, there's something I can't find a way around. Since privately run businesses are governed by the offer-demand pair (in a truly unregulated fashion at least), it stands to reason that this would apply to fully privatised healthcare. Now, under normal circumstances, the amount of healthcare available (as in numbers of active medical professionals, ambulances, hospitals et al) is determined by the demand raised by a relatively healthy population. But what happens with sudden demand peaks due to say, a national epidemy, or a local catastrophe? Wouldn't that cause a critical failure in the ability of privately-run healtcare to provide service, regardless of the ability to pay of its customers?I would never argue for full privatization of everything. Police and Fire are essential public services that everyone must pay for because at some point, everyone may need their services. Health care is different however. If I never need to see a doctor (the last time I saw a doctor was my physical when I separated from the Marine Corps) I should not need to pay for doctors visits for someone else I don't even know by having the money I earn more heavily taxed.That is, moral connotations derived from different classes with different purchasing power notwithstanding.
Yes, so are education, housing, transportation, power, drinking water, and any number of services you can think of. Following that logic, the USSR had it right. Only... they didn't.Health care should be paid by the taxpayers.Proper health care is a vital public service, just as police and fire departments.
I think it's a matter of what is overburdening the state. Universal healthcare is just too heavy a weight. Police and Fire services aren't.
Heh. How many people you think share this view of a "useful" vote?I'd rather have a Democrat in the White House when the congress is Republican and a Republican when congress is in the hands of the Democrats. Heck I voted for Bush in 2000 but not in 2004 for that very reason. Well, lots of reasons but that was one of them. My post on the banking situation should demonstrate how much damage Congress can do while trying to do good. The need a counter weight to keep them in check. -
You, and tons of people. But I doubt that's what they have in mind - just like a subscription to LotRO doesn't automatically allow you to play DDO and Asheron's Call. That'd sure be neat, though.That's an awesome idea. I'd easily pay $20 a month to have access to all the EA games every month.
Well, some people like to revisit a game over and over and over... long after the publisher has ceased to exist. Fallout?I really don't need to own a game. I play the game, and then I'm done with the game.
There's no reason to believe they wouldn't offer the chance to purchase a game... after they had milked the most cash they could out of it. Just like flicks are out on DVD months after the theatrical premiere.edit: I do agree that they need to keep the standard buying model active. I just personally like the idea of a flat monthly fee for a library of games. It's why I dig Gametap.WTF... I actually like the sound of that...
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Not being an English native speaker myself, I too fail to grasp the silly connotations this word seems to have. Therefore, I must resort to pure, unadulterated mathematical logic in order to reach an understanding.If your second definition just matchs the pilot..., then where,s the problem with this word again?
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Yeah, I know. I should have finished my degree before pulling this sort of stunt.
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Monthly fee in mmorpgs are there for a reason. Keeping up servers with really high usage, offering constant online assistance and making patches(balancing or new content) isn
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VERY enlightening. You seem to know your stuff too. Props man.<...History...>Thanks
Nice to put a bit of background in a lay man undertandable way to some of the names and preceeding events.
My pleasue. I kind of enjoyed writing that up. My job gets dreadfully dull sometimes. -
That file is one of the OpenGL DLLs included in some of the latest versions of the Catalyst driver suite. Try downgrading, or perhaps even migrating to Omega altogether.
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Yes, that is legitimate and reasonable, but unlikely to produce any results overall. They put the top guy behind Razor1911 behind bars once too, and AFAIK, they're still operating...In other positive news, Activision seems to have made a genuine attempt at combating piracy. -
Oh, I can read just fine. I read the part where you said you couldn't know the specific reason, and I also read the part where you laid down a rather simplistic and tendentious possible explanation of the circumstances that made him go bat****. That is called contradicting oneself.lern2readlern2write
You mean social outcasts are a product of changing social rules and customs? Do you really believe that?I think that Xard is trying to say that all these killings were done by people who were social outcasts and often picked on by others at school. They expressively feel that they do not belong to the society that they live in and start to have depressive and hyper-aggressive tendencies.
I agree with the general idea that some people are becoming more and more disconnected from their environment. What I don't like is the automatic connection between this and capitalism, which is as weak as disingenuous.At least in Finland, "in the good old days", the underlying social binding with society was stronger among people, and everyone felt that they took part in something (Solidarity perhaps?). Those days are long gone and many people here see this society has turned into a egoistic, selfish, and greedy one. This is also known as the "ME"-generation, hence capitalism and it's strongly individual message.However, i do not know the reasons mentioned above are true or not, it is just the saying on the street, or so to say. But studies have shown that a growing number of young people feel disconnected to the rest of society, which is the underlying problem to begin with.
On the other hand, I believe that, more than a lifestyle and outlook that places the self above everything else, it's the increased chance for publicity that makes these things increase in frequency. I mean, the guy was obviously, desperately seeking attention.
And, of course, one of these incidents per year is still not enough to suggest that society is spiralling to its DOOM.
EDIT: Apparently, the Police questioned him about his YouTube channel the previous day, or so says Wiki.
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Lol, yes.
Guns don't kill people. Capitalism does.
Gimme a break.
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Yep.Is it affected by this DRM crap with 3 installs ? -
That sounds nice and all, save for the fact that they did actually listen to the fans and got their act together regarding bugfixing in CS. You are not purchasing CS (yet) not because it's a terminally buggy product, which it isn't, or because the devs aren't fixing the issues it has, which they are, but simply because you have personal beefs with them. And that, no matter how you want to disguise it, is childish.1) Your primary disagreement appears to be on my criteria. If so, we've got no real argument, because I can't sit here and say that my criteria are the only criteria that should matter to you or anyone else. All I can say is that they matter to me. I feel that not being responsive or dismissive to fans who have paid for your game and are experiencing problems is not a good way to run a business. I feel releasing an extremely buggy game that requires 5 patches and still has major problems and yet having no qualms about collecting peoples money on said game and STILL being dismissive about people's problems is even worse.
It makes my presentation as weak as trying to paint yourself as holding some sort of high moral ground makes yours weak. "Making a statement" and "in good conscience" sure are impressive expressions and seem to add strength to whatever you are trying to say, but in this case, it's just a load of hot air.3) Using highly exaggerated and ludicrous examples such as "whipping their employees to death and using child labor" doesn't help your argument. Its is a poor tactic that just makes your entire presentation seem rather weak and overwrought. You would be better off sticking closer to my original point of companies not listening to their customers making for bad business. -
Have you guys seen this?The good news is this: EA are taking a big step back on Spore
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This is true, and it's probably the crux of the matter. Because it's probably too early and not many people have suffered from inability to play games they paid for because of the DRM, yet.Most of EA's fans simply don't care about DRM one way or another - as long as the game(s) work and play and for most people they do. *shrug*Remember Starforce and Ubi? That wasn't something that happened overnight, either.
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Sure. They compensate by being extremely vocal, though.You sure 'bout that?
Wow, the "operation of a company"? Are they whipping their employees to death and using child labor or something? I mean, I could understand if you wanted to "make a statement" under those circumstances. But refusing to purchase a game you'd most likely enjoy because the devs are asses in their boards and previous products were buggy (hello, NWN2?) is not only spiteful - it's also childish.Spite? Is that what you call it when one observes the operation of a company and decides not to support it? Interesting.
Of course, and that's a very laudable attitude. What I'm criticizing are the criteria you go by and the consistency with which you apply them.Sorry, no. I may not have much say in how the the real world works but I will exercise what little I can. I stopped thinking apathy was cool when I was 18 or so. -
So, "in good conscience" you are refusing to buy a game you know you'd like purely out of personal spite towards the devs. Go good conscience!I loved STALKER:SOC. Loved it, But I still haven't bought STALKER: Clear Sky. Why? 2 reasons:1) In hanging around their forums for the last year or so I have come to dislike how the devs treat their fans.
2) The incredibly buggy release and interminable patch process of S:SOC.
In view of both of those issues I decided not to purchase STALKER: CS upon release despite the fact I'm sure I will enjoy it. I'll probably bargain bin it in a few months. I would prefer to support a pc games developer by purchasing the game immediately, when it matters, but in good conscience I cannot.
Does it? Stalker is possibly an exception, and you have stated that you'll purchase it sooner or later. Perhaps you and I have a different notion of what constitutes failure. I was speaking generally, though, and the commercial performance of Oblivion proves my point.So no, your evalaution of my game-buying thought process fails.
Fortunately, people operating on spite alone are relatively rare.I do wish other gamers would speak more authortatively with their wallets. -
Yeah, not ANY game, just only those you're a "fan" of. And didn't you buy Oblivion, regardless?As to your corollary: There are those like me who do not just buy any game regardless.
No. That's their call to make. They call the shots, they assume the risks.Wrong. If you are in a business that provides goods or services to people for money, you damn well better listen to their feedback.
Isn't that how legends are built?This argument is already stupid, and it's only going to get worse from here. -
Right, because fans always make relevant, sensible, informed, intelligent... etc. criticism. And most importantly, they always offer feasible ways of doing things better, in less time, and with less use of resources! Silly devs.
Lol, despite the general hatred that MW and Oblivion garner in these boards, they were both commercially very successful.
I can add a corollary if you want, though: ignore the fans, because despite all the whining, they'll buy the game just the same.
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Yeah, the RvR part definitely sounds like fun. I'll probably end up giving it a shot.
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Because most folks would have ignored it. And we can't have that, now can we?Why have you not provided a link?
Um, if you say so. I found it to be tenuous, possessed of awkward flow and pace and generally uninspiring. Maybe that's what you meant by "innovative"?Innovative storytelling?I'm playing Clear Sky myself. There are a few design decisions I don't like much, and the game seems to be more focused on the various players around the Zone than the Zone itself, which makes it less interesting than the first game in my eyes. It's still good fun, though.
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The only macros I've known were in UO, where skills improved with use. So macros existed to improve the character, skipping the painstakingly slow and tedious "training" process. I didn't like that game at all. I don't know about macros in modern games, or if that's what Kaftan is referring to.I don't see why anyone would use macros in any game. It's a game, I'm either in the mood to play it or I am not. Those people are just silly.
Wow, queuing? Maybe it works in the game and I'm wrong, but that's one of the possible timesinks I was asking about. I hate that sort of thing.The only instances I've noticed are for scenarios (which are like battlegrounds in WoW). You have to join a queu and wait for it to free up. But I'm only level 10 and I haven't researched it. The world is seamless and the different zones are unnoticeable when you pass through them.But there are also non-instanced battlegrounds where you capture the flags and such.
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Don't you think you're generalising a bit? And oversimplifying, as well. RTSs are basically played exactly as you described (save for the macros). And I don't see you complaining about their lack of depth.I think its alot like "we have over 300 dishes on our menu, but they're all combimnations of peas with spam". It doesnt change the fact that all the player ever does is press the keys 1-9, to use one of the powers while waiting for other powers to reload... or not, since you can have macros that does that for you automaticly, so you dont actually have to play the game.Its just so excruciatingly monotonous and dull, that I just cant imagine a sane person enjoying it. So the fact that there are millions of people who do enjoy this rubbish, makes me feel a bit like Ive woken up in a strange alien world where everyone wears watermelons on their feet and spends their free time performing coloscopies on eachother.
Also, I haven't played AoC, but supposedly the combat was pretty engaging.
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MMOs aren't my type of game. I've said this before. I was refering to your allegations of me not knowing what I'm talking about.
Allegations which you have done nothing to dispel. And you haven't answered my question, either. Did you have a specific reason for raining on this parade, or is it a bit of a tic of yours?
In contrast, Kaftan isn't big on MMOs either, but at least he has arguments and an informed opinion.
Stop disrupting the discussion, please.
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How about instanced play, is there any of that? And, this is something I'm very interested in, how heavy is the game with plain, forced timesinks?There is a fair amount of PvE content, from what I've seen, but I'm not a great judge. I tend to take a pretty long time to get to the level cap in these games.There are 3 different...continents, you might call them. Each continent has Order and Chaos PvE areas, and there seems to be enough content to get up to the level cap.
The Public Quests are a pretty great PvE concept. You work with other folks to trigger certain events in an area. You don't even need to be grouped up, although it helps when there aren't many people attempting it.
Really? Care to explain why?Actually, no, I played the beta and it sucked, IMO. -
You have already made it clear that you don't like MMOs (despite strong indications that you have no clue what you're talking about). So, what then are you doing in a MMO thread? Other than trolling, that is.
Anyhow, I've been considering getting WO. I've read it's heavily geared towards PvP, but how's the PvE aspect? And how long do you assume it would take to "mine" all the present content? How populated are the servers?
US Presidential Elections
in Way Off-Topic
Posted
The burden imposed on the state by public healthcare is directly related to the demographics of the country. Therefore blanket statements in the vein of "public healthcare 4TW" simply fail.