Thanks for the review! You saved me some money and/or a refund. I don't have the twitch reflexes anymore to make this kind of game fun...

Hmmm, color me skeptical. FTL was great because it had a very focused scope and did what it tried to do very well. Saying, "This will be FTL, only more!" doesn't necessarily mean it will even be as good as FTL. It seems like there are a lot more things that can be done poorly when you try to do a lot more. We'll see...

Well, museums have always had a problem attracting teenaged boys. And pictures of half-naked women from video games can't hurt...

Suppa7 wrote on Sep 2, 2017, 22:58:

Nucas wrote on Sep 2, 2017, 17:05:
this was extra funny to me because you fucked up an url link in your post.

I was fully aware but it was late and I didn't care.

Sounds like the rationale behind the release of buggy games. You, sir, have what it takes to be a AAA developer!

Wesp5 wrote on Aug 2, 2017, 10:21:
And another walking simulator where you only observe and to not act or interact with NPCs. For a good story I rather read a book or watch a movie if there is little I can actually do in the game world anyway...

It's by the same people as Gone Home, so expect the usual suspects in the games media (their friends, sexual partners, and allies) to lose their minds praising the "game."

Amusingly enough, the same people who adamantly declare that we should be open to all kinds of people, regardless of their physical, ethnic, gender characteristics, that diversity is our strength, etc., operate as a narrow little clique. If someone outside the clique published a walking simulator of comparable quality (or even something with actual game mechanics... see "House Party"), they'd be waiting with bated breath to tear it apart (especially if it had boobies in it!). So, despite all the rhetoric, the great defenders of "diversity" in games are still just motivated by protecting the "in" group (their friends). Kek manifests in mysterious ways... (Blues needs a good Pepe smiley)

Cutter wrote on Jul 26, 2017, 16:57:

jdreyer wrote on Jul 26, 2017, 15:22:
Gotta love how McCain votes to take away people's government-sponsored healthcare after being a recipient of government-sponsored healthcare his entire life: first in the military, then as a member of congress.

"All for me, none for thee."

Yeah, I was going to same thing. Doncha just love how all those cockbags voting to take away the peoples healthcare are themselves recipients of the best benefit packages that money can buy paid for by those same people they want to take away the already bare minimum that they receive. GOP supporters are fine with being needlessly raped by the military-industrial complex but god forbid people get even basic healthcare. Imagine if Britain had won the War of Indpendence, you'd all have health and dental care right now.

So long as the death panel decides that you deserve the treatment or that the treatment meets their criteria for "success." Ask the parents of Charlie Gard how that works out...

Honestly, I love Smart Brother (let's see who gets the reference) as much as the next guy, but I don't play video games for a "realistic" space experience. Not that there isn't room for a good, detailed space sim (maybe someone should kickstart that? Should be doable for under $150 mil ), but sometimes reality isn't that much fun. Give me Xwing over the Space Shuttle Simulator any day...

Beamer wrote on Jul 19, 2017, 09:38:

Kxmode wrote on Jul 18, 2017, 21:25:

The Half Elf wrote on Jul 18, 2017, 19:01:
A GM has control on how many facial animators they hire right?

None. As General Manager of BioWare, he will be responsible for driving the studio's culture, climate, mission, product directions, and ultimately profit for both BioWare and EA. Hopefully, under Casey's leadership, the openly hostile and toxic culture of both overt racism and forced fed social justice warrior nonsense can finally be stymied. Furthermore, having the studio return to the way they used to be is in EA's best interest.

EA must have seen Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm to know that when Disney, for the most part, backs away and lets those studios do their thing, both reap success. I hope EA does this with BioWare under Casey's stead and eventually adopt it as a standard for their other properties.

It's funny, you talk to people that work there and they all love it. None complain it was openly hostile or toxic.

But then, here's the white guy on the internet with hurt feelings who's never once spoken to a person on the inside, just angry at one dude tweeting.

Non sequitur. No one here cares (nor does EA) how "happy" the studio employees are with the politics and/or direction of the studio. EA certainly doesn't care about a welcoming or hostile work environment (nor did the OP mention this - you're responding to an argument he didn't make). We, the consumers, care whether or not BioWare creates fun and engaging games (and ME:A was a dud). EA cares that BioWare makes games that will sell a lot, and thereby make tons of money (see above). Interestingly enough, those two outcomes are connected. Whether the assistant second animator is happy with the political correctness of the latest story really isn't.

It's funny how the social justice self-righteous always tend to answer questions that were not asked or disagree with comments not made. Gives them a chance to preen, I suppose.

Don't the candy crush people sue everyone who uses "saga" in their name? This should be interesting...

NKD wrote on Jun 29, 2017, 20:05:

MeanJim wrote on Jun 29, 2017, 19:49:

FFS there are a lot of cold, heartless people here.

We have a small population of eToughGuy Libertarians here, most of whom wouldn't last a day if left naked in a garbage dump and forced to "lift themselves up by their bootstraps" in a Libertarian system.

Of course you have to lack any kind of human empathy to be a Libertarian to begin with, so it's not surprising.

Funny, but the list of "libertarian government genocides" doesn't return many results. But "leftist/socialist/communist genocide" returns more deaths in the 20th century than malaria. So much for your "compassionate" and "empathetic" ideologies, eh?

But being a empathetic lefty means never having to accept reality. You just make up your own "facts" and shout louder. Your Utopias also end up putting most of you up against the wall first, too. At least I'll get the amusement of watching your confusion as you get led to the guillotine. "But, but, I'm one of the good guys! I have empathy!"

eRe4s3r wrote on Jun 29, 2017, 18:27:

HorrorScope wrote on Jun 29, 2017, 17:24:

Cutter wrote on Jun 29, 2017, 12:55:
The accessibility thing is nuts. When I opened my first resto - a small 50 seat cafe - we had to install a handicapped bathroom that ate up a lot of necessary funds. In the 5 years I was there I never once saw anyone in a wheelchair come in. I doubt there's ever been someone in a wheelchair come in. I empathize for them but there has to be some common sense applied to the situation.

I'm a believer they have their own organization for this and for every region in Murica, there is that wheelchair person that goes store to store just looking for trouble and heading straight to city hall to report you. If they need it or not... they will just do it.

Yeah, and I am of the firm belief that most people are so emotionally unstable and empathically damaged that they can't grasp why a person that sits in a wheelchair (not by their own choice, fyi) might want to have the possibility of living a normal life and not have to check every single location they visit beforehand whether they can even drive through the fucking door. Which is a very real issue even to this day, if the elevator for the subway is broken down for example, what you gonna do as disabled person? Drive down the stairs? No, you are fucking stuck and have to call a friend, cab or uber, so you better hope that place you are stuck at has cellphone reception. And people sitting in a wheelchair are not disabled, it's the environment that makes them so.

So obviously they are trying to make every location accessible, because if even 1 location is not, then they can't live a normal life

I don't think forcing tiny businesses to invest huge sums of money without state support is the way to go, but 100% wheelchair friendly businesses should definitely be a thing. If it costs too much for business owners then state has to support it.

First, they can't ever have a "normal" life. So, as much as we'd all like to make life as smooth for them as it is for the ambulatory, that's an impossibility based on their membership in the category in the first place.

Second, they are disabled. Stating that the environment makes them disabled is like saying that chemistry is at fault for salt-induced hypertension. The fact that they can't do what a normal baseline human can do (i.e. walk) is the definition of disabled.

Third, the idea that "[i]f it costs too much for business owners then state has to support it" is one of the most economically illiterate statements I've ever heard. Where the hell does the "state" get its money? From the businesses and citizens that it taxes. So, we'll slightly reduce the costs to any one person or business by spreading it across many more, and hide it from everyone by lumping it into what everyone pays in taxes. At least be intellectually honest and say that you want the rest of the citizens in society to pay for the conveniences of the disabled. I could respect that, at least (we do it with mental institutions, etc.). But to handwave the cost away by appeals to "state" funding...

RedEye9 wrote on Jun 29, 2017, 13:08:
I wish everything revolved around my failed life experiences.

Based on your posting history, apparently it does...

Anyone still play this? At launch it seemed incomplete and shallow. Curious as to whether age has improved it any...

Loose Cannon wrote on Jun 26, 2017, 17:08:

Eirikrautha wrote on Jun 26, 2017, 15:28:
Agree with you partially, but here's my problem with this. CRI makes it sound like they are doing a "J.G. Wentworth" (an infamous US structured settlement firm) and simply getting an advance payment (lump-sum) that they are guaranteed later. OK. But why would they need IP as collateral? If they have cash on hand, that can serve as a guarantee. Normally, the imputed payment that they are getting an advance on is considered the only collateral necessary.

One of two things is the case here. Either CRI doesn't have enough cash that the bank is comfortable in giving them a signature loan, or the bank is unsure the government will follow through on its promise. This is a logical concern. Until the government actually allocates the money, they can decide at any time not to fund any program. So the bank must have a little concern that the UK may not fund the development tax credits...

The third option is that Derek Smart doesn't understand CIG finances, and that the IP isn't actually up for collateral. You may believe Derek Smart or you may believe Chris Roberts, I don't find either to be a trust worthy source... but the OP states that there is no IP collateral: "the collateral specifically excludes “Star Citizen.” The UK Government rebate entitlement, which is audited and certified by our outside auditors on a quarterly basis, is the prime collateral"

Take it for what it's worth, however in this instance the GBP loan makes sense, so I'll take CR over DS.

Weasel words, maybe. It excludes "Star Citizen," but does it exclude "Squadron 42," as has been suggested was the collateral?

Loose Cannon wrote on Jun 26, 2017, 12:11:
Disclaimer, I backed this game during the Kickstarter. I regret backing it.

I don't think this is as complicated as you're all making it. Their primary funds are in USD and EUR (as stated, I assume that's true). To pay their GBP debt, they would have to do a currency conversion. They _could_ wait until the tax payment comes in to pay their GBP debt and push off their creditors until tax year end (ie employees, who probably wouldn't like that) or incur a currency conversion fee.

Or they can secure a monthly loan in GBP against the tax rebate they will receive. This loan would not be risky since it's versus guaranteed money. If the loan interest rate is less than the currency conversion fee (and I suspect it would be), this _is_ smart money management.

I doubt the tax rebate pays the entire UK office, so they likely have to do currency conversion anyway. This is just a way to minimize that fee.

The sky might be falling at Cloud Imperium -- but this isn't an indication of it.

Agree with you partially, but here's my problem with this. CRI makes it sound like they are doing a "J.G. Wentworth" (an infamous US structured settlement firm) and simply getting an advance payment (lump-sum) that they are guaranteed later. OK. But why would they need IP as collateral? If they have cash on hand, that can serve as a guarantee. Normally, the imputed payment that they are getting an advance on is considered the only collateral necessary.

One of two things is the case here. Either CRI doesn't have enough cash that the bank is comfortable in giving them a signature loan, or the bank is unsure the government will follow through on its promise. This is a logical concern. Until the government actually allocates the money, they can decide at any time not to fund any program. So the bank must have a little concern that the UK may not fund the development tax credits...

...saying the Tsar Wars expansion for the World War I shooter...

Well played, Blue, well played...

FTL on the high seas. This has potential. I'm not sold on the mechanics yet (seems more arcadey than simulationist), but if it's fun, I'll play it...

God, that playthrough video looks awful. Zombie bullet-sponges are easily the worst mechanic ever...

Kxmode wrote on Apr 13, 2017, 05:03:
I made a similar point in another thread here and here. A corporation cannot own how Carmack creates and writes his code because he obtained the sum of his knowledge at one company. Being the father of the FPS genre and working his entire gaming career at one company guarantees anything he creates is going to look like ZeniMax's IP (even intentional stuff).

This situation is like Arenanet suing Kekai Kotaki after his departure. Kekai was one of their lead concept artists and responsible for many of the iconic visuals of the GW1 and GW2 franchise. It would be ludicrous to sue him because his work today looks too much like the concept art that ArenaNet produces today. When you consider Kekai spent most of his gaming career at ArenaNet, it's very hard to separate style from company assets.

The fundamental problem is most people involved in reaching a decision have little to no experience with the subject matter. The only true way for a case like this to be tried would be a judge and jury (if required) with some experience in programming and (or) game development. They would be qualified to render a fair judgment. More importantly, programming is language and language is free speech. A case like this would establish the fundamental rights programmers have in that corporations cannot own how someone creates and writes their code; even if the code looks similar.

This remains my fear as I move from company to company. I take what I learn with me. Sometimes the techniques I learn could be considered property by the previous company. It creates a bit of anxiety since no there are no touchstone cases.

Your Honor, and ladies and gentlemen (and non-binary attack helicopter-kin) of the jury, please direct your attention to Exhibit A.

Here you see computer language that we in the business call "code." On the left, notice that the defendant used what is known as a "for-next" loop in the code he produced for our company. See this letter here? It's an "i," used to count how many times this loop will execute.

Now look at the code on the right. This is the code stolen from us and used in the defendant's work for the filthy thieves that have hired him. Notice the "for-next" loop there? And what do we have here?!

An "i"! Used to count the loops!

The complainant rests!

Nice 2010 reference, Blue. Highly underrated movie...