BruceVC

http://news.techworl...-today/?olo=rss Hi All Some of you may have followed this story. In summary a UK based computer expert, Gary Mckinnon, hacked into the Pentagon in 2002 and caused major system disruption. He was charged in the USA but has been fighting extradition the last 10 years. His defense claims, amongst other things, that being sent to the USA would be considered a "cruel punishment" and he wants to be charged in the UK. Whats your view on this and people that fight extradition. I notice that people seem to particularly fight extradition to the USA. I think its a joke and amounts to people not wanting to face an effective court system. Recently in the UK we had the convicted terrorist, Abu Hamza, also fighting extradition. Thankfully he is now in the USA and faces numerous charges related to terrorism. People commit crimes and then don't want to take responsibility in a US court. In South Africa we also get people that fight extradition to South Africa to face charges like murder and rape. They claim a prison sentence in South Africa is the same as a death sentence due to gangs, over crowding and HIV. This of course is an exaggeration but they try this argument. Anyway you can't compare the prisons in the USA to South Africa. I feel Gary Mckinnon needs to go the USA and face the charges, jail time in the USA doesn't mean a death sentence.

I am probably missing something but I don't see the issue here. The universities need the revenue, the presidents of the universities still need to agree to it and the universities will gain money from the fracking. What has this got to do with big corporations owning the USA government ?

Thx Luridis for this informative post about why games developed for Consoles and PC won't be as complex as PC only games. I always find these types of insights fascinating.

You think that's bad? Here's an ancient Roman map of Europe: http://upload.wikime...1st_century.jpg Hell, I saw an ancient Greek map in a book where everything was cubic. I really wish I remember what book or map it was... Wow, interesting post. The funny thing is that even though the map is simplistic you can see still see how a person could use to navigate to Britain for example

Eh? As long as a game has a day/night cycle, with lighting effects that accurately project "dawn", "dusk", "sunset" etc. you really don't need a digital clock in the game at all, do you? That being the case, I think it's cool that the IE games allowed you access to such specific info if you wanted it.... which means hovering your cursor over the button. But I for one, would not wish for the UI to be cluttered with such info by default. Couldn't you just have a button that hides the clock? And just like that your cluttered issue is resolved

And their relationship with the USA. They took power in Afghanistan thanks to US support. American anti-soviet interventionism was disastrous foreign policy and we'll be paying the price for dead men's idiocy for generations to come. To be fair thats not an accurate representation of the truth. During the Soviet War in Afghanistan (1979-1989) the USA did support the Mujahideen fighters against the Soviets, but that was during the Cold War and proxy wars were common. When the Soviets pulled out and a civil war started in Afghanistan the USA also left and the Taliban were the group that eventually came to power. So the USA didn't directly assist the Taliban or Al-Qeada, no was aware of how these groups would evolve. I can guarantee you the USA wouldn't have stopped assisting in the 1990's if there crystal ball was working.

I find your view a little jaded and cynical Tigranes. I mean are you seriously telling us that you aren't managing a hedge fund that is worth several hundred million dollars? I didn't think so !!! Of course you identify with these politicians

I don't think anyone is content with the acid and poison attacks. The reason this one attacks getting more exposure and attention is because she was a very popular figure for her willingness to speak out about education. She had received a major award from the government and there are interviews of her that are now circulating the web. Now you could take the cynical approach and go "she's getting the attention because she's a celebrity" or you can see her as a very good symbol for all the girls that have been attacked by perverse groups like the Taliban. I would hope the outpouring of attention her attack is receiving will help change Pakistani society. The reason why the attack on this girl has received so much attention is that her statements are truly unique in the Pakistani context. She is vociferous and brave and even though many Pakistani women want a change they aren't vocal about it. Its the first time I have known a young women to speak out against groups like the Taliban. What she did was not propaganda at all, it was reasonable and discussed a much needed change that needs to come to certain countries. It sickens me that people are prepared to kill a women that believes that women have a right to education and to determine there own future. Of course it doesn't surprise me as the Taliban are a barbaric and medieval organization whose views are anathema to most reasonable people.

Good points raised, I agree with almost everything you have said I am hoping for a SERIOUS comeback from Obama in the next presidential debate

Its just suggestion, you don't need to comment if you don't want to. And yes I think David Ogden's voice would be more than suitable

I agree with this sentiment, lets have encounters that you cannot win unless you are the right level. Like the Black Troll in Gothic. But if there is an enemy that you cannot ever beat it would just be frustrating and pointless for me.

He is clearly trolling, no one can be so uninformed as to see the Taliban as a positive influence in any respect. Also the girl was shot in Pakistan. The Taliban come from Afghanistan but many of them have fled to Western Pakistan and have influence with the various fundamentalist Islamic groups in Pakistan and they use Pakistan to launch attacks against the Western coalition and the current regime in Afghanistan. So you can't argue that this attack was for there freedom as it wasn't even in there own country. This is about anyone who attempts to speak out against there own anachronistic and polluted interpretation of Islam.

I see that Time released pictures of Paul Ryan training at the gym, the general consensus is that it makes him appear fatuous and that it trivializes the images he needs to project as a serious politician. Personally I am supporting the Obama\Biden ticket but I think these photo's actually work for Romney\Ryan and he looks more normal and someone I can identify with. The image that Romney has for some is that he is not in touch with the masses, so these photo's for me go some way to changing that view. What do you think these photos do for the image of Paul Ryan and therefore Romney?

Overdone? I can only think of one fantasy RPG that has had a reasonable representation of dinosaurs and that was Storm and Zenir. So yes I vote for them in certain places in the game world I think you need to play more RPGs. I see them a lot in JRPGs, MMOs, and WRPGs. Doesnt matter though, we need dinosaurs. :D Okay I don't remember many(if any) Dinosaurs in BG1&2, Gothic1-3, NWN1&2, Elder Scrolls 3-4, or the Witcher series. So maybe remind me? Two Worlds had some dinosaurs if I am not mistaken

I agree. Good point. I am really excited about the concept of a super dungeon where each level has its own identity, inhabitants and cultures. Thats the one disadvantage about not using the D&D world. We know and are familiar with the likes of the Duegar, Illthid, Drow, Myconids and others so its both exciting and worrying when you meet them as you explore a multi-leveled subterranean maze

Overdone? I can only think of one fantasy RPG that has had a reasonable representation of dinosaurs and that was Storm and Zenir. So yes I vote for them in certain places in the game world

Do we really want publicity from sites like IGN? Without sounding like an elitist jerk, I really doubt the majority of IGN's readers have the capacity to appreciate a good cRPG. They'll just try and twist the project in a horrible direction with incessant cries for stuff like console support, mountable dragons, and multiplayer. Some more exposure on youtube wouldn't hurt though. You do sound like an elitist jerk, though It goes without saying that sites of this sort have a huge reach and a large following - even if only a small percent of their target audience would be interested in P:E, it would still result in a huge amount of new backers. I just think too much widespread attention can sometimes do more harm than good. There's the risk that it'll put pressure on the developers to design the game for a broader audience, thus resulting in an inferior product for people who actually like cRPGs. Lets not generalize, I am a supporter of IGN and other gaming websites. There are many people on those websites who contribute constructively towards the gaming industry and understand exactly what a cRPG is.

I have always found gods of particular monsters as interesting, like a Fire Giant god or a god of Bugbears. Or a pantheon of monster gods

Yaaaay, I agree it is good news

I agree with your positive sentiment but the game still has to sell copies and make money before you can say its a financial success for Obsidian. The money committed from KS is development costs. End of the day I firmly believe that Obsidian wants to make this game but they also would want to make money for themselves. That will determine whether these types of development models continue. I am confidant it will sell well.

I am looking forward to this game. I am going to play Risen 2 and then Dishonored. For those who are interested in a long, fascinating and insightful read about the creators of Dishonored, Arkane Studios, you need to read the article below. It will show you just how difficult the development industry can be http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/6/27/3115822/arkane-dishonored-bethesda-origin-crossing-deus-ex-arx-fatalis

Thats the thing you don't have to be a certain age to enjoy the earlier RPG. Its about a preference on gameplay and complexity of that gameplay and thats not dependent on your age, so you could be a "traditionalist " (not that I believe in that word the Op uses )

This has happened to me once before, you just need to contact steam support. So create a Steam support ticket and they will contact you and resolve it

If you enjoyed DA2 it puts you squarely in the "should be culled to prevent breading" group. Gotta be careful with all those bakers around, never know what they'll be cooking up next. Come now lets not be pedantic, we all know he meant "breeding" Sorry, proof reader, it's difficult to resist I'm a little curious, it seems anyone who professes a liking to the Dragon Age series at all gets automatically put into the Bioware 'faction'? I agree, I find the Ops premise generalizes too much. My point is you may think that classic RPG were the best but you can also have enjoyed DA1&2. Why does that put you into the Bioware faction, and if so what does that really mean in your ability to support and contribute towards PE?

If you enjoyed DA2 it puts you squarely in the "should be culled to prevent breading" group. Gotta be careful with all those bakers around, never know what they'll be cooking up next. Come now lets not be pedantic, we all know he meant "breeding"