BruceVC

"giving up" that's normally my decision when I get frustrated. But I want to give RTS another go so I will try CK2 as well

The income levels will vary wildly depending on location and so will purchasing power in gaming. So what? Instead of pointless whining, why don't people use Google to convert Rand or Rubles into Dollars and answer the question? Because it's not just the income level that are different but also game prices.100 euros will on average buy you much more games in Ukraine than in UK. Hence the income question loses validity when taken outside the context of US market. It doesn't really matter, so long as you know what your data means and take its limitations into account. Looking at the games market as a whole and without geographic distinction is a perfectly valid approach, so long as you don't start trying to draw location specific conclusions from it. To a point it would have been a good idea to have the location data anyway since it adds flexibility- but only to a point, it isn't essential. I have to honest I am really confused by what accurate results you can get from this survey without mentioning the country so maybe you can explain Zora because I know you are clever . Lets say 100 people answer the survey and 60 % of these people all live in Eastern Europe, they say that they only buy 2 games every month and don't trust gaming journalists. Decado has already mentioned that this survey was done for Americans only and he assumed initially only Americans would respond. At the end of the survey he looks at the 100 results and says " interesting so 60 % of the people in America who responded only buy 2 games and don't trust gaming journalists" Let me use this information as reference in my thesis or just as a general point Except those people don't live in America so this information isn't accurate?

Yeah, I don't know what to make of it. One thing I do know is that I won't be making any more predictions until I see what country he ends up in. I'm tired of being wrong

I do remember that, I also remember having to add various extra memory command lines to the original DOS command file ( config.sys ?) to get games like Kings Quest 1 working. I had fun but I prefer modern gaming where everything just works autoexec.bat LOADHIGH C:\DOS\MOUSE.COM Or something like: PATH=C:\DOS LH MOUSE.COM config.sys would look something like: DOS=HIGH,UMB DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS rem DEVICE C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM Was still doing this as late as the early 00s, when I had an old 486 to run my old games rather than DOSbox/GOG as is the case now. Oh yes, that's it. Well done for posting this, this is very nostalgic

You've taken some good photos, nice one I have had my own vicarious trip around the USA through your updates.

Its unclear, to be honest. Most of what I've read about the early info on THE DIVISION actually describe it as an MMO with opponents being other players who, in groups, are looking for the same resources as your group. I have to say I haven't played an MMO for years but someone at my work showed me the demo and it looks amazing. We should consider getting a group together on these forums for those interested?

As I mentioned earlier, this is not possible right now. When any student or academic wishes to study a social phenomenon using human subjects, they have to submit their research proposal to an Instrument Review Board that carefully examines the instrument in question, whether it is a survey, an experiment model, or a set of questions for an interview. The questions and methodology get a comprehensive review in order to make sure that the instrument is not violating any ethical or legal rules, and also that the instrument will not cause psychological harm to any subjects that may take it. One of the biggest areas of concern is focused on the differences between anonymity and confidentiality. The survey you took was approved by the IRB at my university, and that approval is contingent upon the instrument staying the way it is. I am allowed some leeway when it comes to correcting spelling errors or maybe switching around a word or two, but adding another field to collect location data is a large enough change that I would have to resubmit my materials to the IRB. This would delay my research by a large margin, and invalidate all of the survey data I have collected so far. But the biggest issue is that these would be changes to no good effect, as location is pretty much irrelevant to what I want to know. A gamer from Germany having an opinion on professional reviews and a guy from America also having an opinion are equally valuable to the project at large. My research is American-centric but that's because I'm American, surrounded by other Americans, studying journalists who write in English -- this last point being quite important, since most of the barriers that come up in using the internet to conduct research are language barriers. The only point where this may pose a problem is with income, and even then I'm no so sure it is a problem. I work in an international business climate and I can say that most people who aren't from America know how much they make "in American dollars" simply because it is still the most widely used currency in the world, and is often the currency of choice for international business deals (though of course, not always). I do not anticipate people having that much of a problem with throwing their income out in terms of American money. Worst case scenario, the respondent can ignore the question altogether. So it's not the most precise instrument ever designed, but that is okay. I have a certain amount of room in which to work, as do most experiments conducted by graduate students who have no money to spend on their research. The real meat of the research is about how people feel about professional game critics, users, and the differences between the two of them. To answer that, I don't need to know where people are from. Okay thanks for explaining. I don't agree with everything you are saying but that's okay, we can agree to disagree

I do remember that, I also remember having to add various extra memory command lines to the original DOS command file ( config.sys ?) to get games like Kings Quest 1 working. I had fun but I prefer modern gaming where everything just works

Still not seeing it as something, it is just a survey of some people posting in a game developer's forum. Do find it funny how you judge your own stance though, as always. Thanks Malc, I'm glad I made you laugh. You know they say " time spent laughing is time spent with the gods" So consider this my gift to you for today. If you carry on being polite and friendly I'll make you laugh more

You should read the topic from the beginning to see the issues raised around the survey Not really sure either, I guess the dollar sign ? BruceVC's got to get upset about something, I suppose. I'm not upset at all and its clear you don't read my posts as I have no issue with the question around dollars as I mentioned ( you naughty boy Malc ) I am giving constructive criticism why I feel the survey is flawed and why without asking where people live you aren't going to get the correct picture. For example the salary question isn't appropriate without understanding where people live

America americaned over america. America americaned america in america. America america america america. I am not trying to sound too judgmental but what concerns me the most about his thesis is how inaccurate its going to be or rather how myopic the foundation of his thesis is. To write anything around the Internet and its general trends and to not consider the fact that these types of statistics would obviously contain international information shows a profound lack of understanding on what constitutes Internet data. So imagine if he goes for a job interview and when asked about his thesis, "Yes I graduated and got a very good grade on my thesis which was about gaming reviews on the Internet. I know it was accurate and provides insight because it only included feedback from Americans living in America because they represent the gaming industry". Its fine to be America-centric but not around discussions about obviously international topics that require accurate feedback and content I don't want to get into a flame war but 1) I haven't said what my thesis is 2) There is no such thing, from an scholastic point of view, as "internet data." There is data, and the place you get it from -- whether from a phone survey, internet survey, personal survey, you name it -- has limitations. That is something you simply have to deal with when it comes to the social sciences. 3) The limitations of this particular set of data will be (actually, have already been) noted in the literature of the study. Since this is a convenience sample and not a representative sample, the errors introduced by the gathering method(s) are lot easier to deal with. 4) Most students do not have the money or the resources to craft a survey methodology that can reach across such a broad group of respondents as you are suggesting. At least, they cannot do it with any accuracy. Huge marketing firms like NPD literally spend millions and millions of dollars on that kind of research, and they have teams of people working on these projects for months at a time. I am simply a graduate student with an operating budget of zero. Nobody -- not me, not my school, not any employer and not any industry professional -- will be under any illusions as to what this data is saying about a larger trend. The absolute best I will be able to say about whatever my work produces is that we should (or should not, depending) investigate this area further. I also don't want to get into a flame war and I apologize if I was too harsh. I am actually trying to give you constructive criticism and my intention is to help you and not to run you down and all the work you have done and are going to do. Allow me to explain in more detail. My understanding of a thesis is that it should be accurate and the content relevant to the topic you are writing about. You are correct that I have no idea what your thesis is about but the crux of your survey seems to ask how gamers view reviews from gaming journalists and users. I can only focus on that and where I think your survey is flawed. I would think you would want to make corrections to something you are writing if there is indeed room for improvement. Firstly I am a software consultant and I work for an global American company. One of the issues we see is that certain people come for interviews with degrees and all this education but lack common sense and don't have the right work ethos. I am not suggesting this applies to you, I am just giving you some background to a real issue companies face in hiring competent staff. Your survey asks some pertinent questions but as has been pointed out you completely ignore the fact that there are people living outside the USA who frequent those gaming websites you mention and who can give you accurate information around the survey. I don't think you need to make major changes at all. You can keep the salary in dollars as you can't be expected to put in every currency but at least ask people where they live as then you have context to the responses. This is something I would think you would want to do to get an understanding of how the responses may vary from around the world. So I am not asking you to do a comprehensive analysis of all possible gamers, just make some minor changes. Good luck with the rest of the thesis

Woldan you have really let me and others down, I can't believe you actually broke your diet so comprehensively. How are you going to live with yourself, and to make things worse you drank Chocolate Milk. Whats next...a Marshmallow and Chocolate Eisbein? I'm very disappointed in you, very disappointed

Labadal you are a teacher right, what don't you enjoy about that job?

http://www.onlysp.com/exclusive-interview-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-will-have-36-different-endings-no-load-times-and-more/ Some more information about this much anticipated game

There are many very good looking and athletically built Rugby players in the international circuit. They have ladies swooning all over them and its understandable I think the days of assuming Ruby players need to look like Ogres are over

I have always wanted to play this series of games. I read that only the one set in our modern era against the Mexican cartels wasn't worth playing

LadyC you should spend some time learning the Foundry, then you create a complex and multi-levelled dungeon where the players have to be really nice and assist groups of cats. If they are not polite to the cats then giant sabre-tooth cats materialize out of the air and attack them !!! What do you think?

There have been some good suggestions in this thread. I would also like to add we need similar Romance\Sex themes added to PE that were in NWN2. I want to know the personal stories of my party members as I attempt to court the people I have an emotional connection with.

Okay I see what you mean. Your point is around the console simply being the choice of gaming platform

No, but they would have sold a lot less. Why do you say that? As a PC gamer myself, I'd still expect the consoles to make up a larger part of the pie even if all games made are made for PC as well. Alan I'm a little confused by your point, are you saying you don't believe that the quality and number of console games available are a reason that people would invest in one?

I'm sure some people will, I bought an x360 because of Mass Effect back in the day. Let's say I have no regrets, but I seriously doubt there's going to be another game in the foreseeable future that would make me buy into a specific platform I wouldn't buy otherwise. Probably just old age, though. Hi Nep I hear you but one should never make predictions around what we are prepared to spend on our gaming experience as you never know the impact the next type of technology or the next "must have" game will have on you. Imagine if the new Torment or PE turns out to be greatest game you ever played and offers you hundreds of hours of fulfilling entertainment. Suddenly the money you spent becomes irrelevant. I always like to say " you cannot equate a monetary value to a good time or experience" Is this the point where I admit that I've never actually played Torment. Well, for longer than one evening. The last two times I've installed it, no amount of windows acrobatics has made it work... You'll notice I was careful enough to not say never, but I really can't see myself buying Microsoft's contraption at any cost or for any reason- Part of it is of course that I'm looking at a lifestyle change which will involve a lot less couch gaming than until now. Lifestyle changes are always a good thing, well only if they are positive If you don't mind me asking what are you going to be changing about your lifestyle?

That's an easy one, the PC is obviously the choice as the advanced gaming platform

I'm sure some people will, I bought an x360 because of Mass Effect back in the day. Let's say I have no regrets, but I seriously doubt there's going to be another game in the foreseeable future that would make me buy into a specific platform I wouldn't buy otherwise. Probably just old age, though. Hi Nep I hear you but one should never make predictions around what we are prepared to spend on our gaming experience as you never know the impact the next type of technology or the next "must have" game will have on you. Imagine if the new Torment or PE turns out to be greatest game you ever played and offers you hundreds of hours of fulfilling entertainment. Suddenly the money you spent becomes irrelevant. I always like to say " you cannot equate a monetary value to a good time or experience"

America americaned over america. America americaned america in america. America america america america. I am not trying to sound too judgmental but what concerns me the most about his thesis is how inaccurate its going to be or rather how myopic the foundation of his thesis is. To write anything around the Internet and its general trends and to not consider the fact that these types of statistics would obviously contain international information shows a profound lack of understanding on what constitutes Internet data. So imagine if he goes for a job interview and when asked about his thesis, "Yes I graduated and got a very good grade on my thesis which was about gaming reviews on the Internet. I know it was accurate and provides insight because it only included feedback from Americans living in America because they represent the gaming industry". Its fine to be America-centric but not around discussions about obviously international topics that require accurate feedback and content

That's because he knew how to play the game. If you want to create stability in a poor country, you need 2 things. You need to be seen cracking down on corruption (whether you actually do it or not) and you need to offer people hope of upward mobility (whether real or not). As long as you can do that, people seem to be generally docile and go along with whatever other excentricies you may have. Looks like they failed on one or both points in Brazil. Edit to add: Slightly tangential, but I think (imho) that corruption is the single most contributing factor holding back emerging and third world countries. Well said Gorthfucius, the corruption point is paramount and also I would say the upward mobility is part of education. That's how you uplift people, you let them uplift themselves through education. That's the biggest issue in South African at the moment. Uneducated people and people who finished grade 12 but are unemployable. Sometimes they can't even speak English PS : You don't often comment on our political discussions, you sagacious and oracle-like insight is good to hear