Category: Asides

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Comment Spotlight

Sometimes when you receive a comment, there are so many things you want to say that you cannot say any. You can do little but regard it with wonder. As with a poem or a koan, the discussion would be far longer than the original. Rather than leave the lantern beneath a bushel, in the spirit of Warrior Wisdom Fridays, we present the pronouncement of jon:

RMT proponents are so amusingly shallow emotionally (hence easily manipulated by game devs). You people deserve to be parted with your money.
The “directs your efforts away from the unemployed” quote illustrates the mindset of RMT proponents quite a bit. Continually frustrated by their own perceived inability to compete with fellow MMO players for virtual status, they champion a form of meta-gaming where money, instead of merit, can buy status within the community.
While they would have people believe their desire for RMT based games is simply about enabling them to enjoy the game in their own unique flowery way. it’s really about finally being able to show up the “unemployed” guy. Ironically the unemployed guy (who never really existed in the first place), bored by MoneyQuest™ goes and plays something where achievement is rewarded, leaving the RMTers high and dry with nobody to show off to.
This RMT fixation indicates self-esteem and confidence issues to me. Take a break from the XP potions and zombie pandas. Use the extra money for a session with a therapist.

Long live fiero.

: Zubon

More Arguments Against Zubon

I have said many times that developers will make more money working directly opposed to my preferences. The mass market is somewhere over there. The menu-builders at Taco Bell may be amongst our readers, because every item I used to order is now gone. Perhaps the rest of America decided that a “big taste taco” is not worth the extra dime.

I applaud their wisdom and wish them greater profits in years to come.

: Zubon

A Year and a Day

Today I will have written at Kill Ten Rats for a year and a day.  It is by far the longest I have ever solidly written for a blog, and I love every minute of it.  I was going to write out some huge what-I’ve-learned exposition, but I like bullet points.  We all like bullet points, right?

  • Never underestimate the power of the words “I think” or “in my opinion.”
  • Getting to know people in the industry is easier than you think, but it requires trust and patience (and sometimes travel).
  • We are not a news site, yet I feel sometimes the need to rush out “hot” posts.  I feel they are my worst ones.
  • Always give credit where it is due.  If another blog jogged your thought process give them a link.
  • I don’t think I could write my own blog.  I need the community and other active contributers here. My writing wouldn’t be anywhere as good as it is today without constantly reading Zubon’s posts.
  • Ethic should write more, especially about Fallen Earth. Otherwise put up a Twitter sidebar because you write there. :)
  • Our commentors are the best.  They are intelligent and keep us honest, especially Bonedead.
  • Write about what you love and want to share.  Don’t write for hits.
  • The best way of letting people know about your blog is to comment on others’.
  • Intelligent armchair quarterbacks are okay, but constructive player opinions and stories are best.  Unless you are a developer, you don’t need to give answers to problems you see.

–Ravious
wear sunscreen

Stupid Bureaucrats

An oxymoron, I know. I was watching one of my favorite shows, The Unit, today and one of the characters said something to the effect of ‘bureaucrats won’t leave a meeting until no one is happy.’  I saw Tobold and Syp talk about the upcoming FTC changes that will affect bloggers that choose to review products, when the reviews are endorsed.  “Endorsement” is the key word to the whole scenario, and while the FTC tries to muddy the waters with their examples, it sounds bigger than it is.

An “endorsement” that runs afoul of the FTC requires an undisclosed material connection, where the material connection caused the speech.  In other words, if an unsolicited copy of a game shows up on my doorstep, and I choose to review it, I am not necessarily endorsing the game according to the FTC (see footnote 21).  Now if the game company kept sending me unsolicited games, and I kept reviewing them… well there might be grounds for that material connection.  If the game company said they would send me a free copy if I review it, then I would be endorsing it, according to the FTC, even if my review was a scalding 2/10.

Blogging is based on trust.  I don’t read blogs very often from bloggers whose quality of thoughts seem bought.   Now, I agree that a blogger should disclose a review in exchange for free product, but I think the FTC is pretty stupid to make that required.  They really don’t have anything else to do with their time than monitor blogs?  Glad my tax dollars are hard at work trying to chill free speech on the internet of all places.

–Ravious
the death of all sound work

Code 43 Bleg

Any recommendations?
I turned off my monitor and walked AFK. When I turned it on again, the screen was unresponsive. After a hard boot, “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)” The device is a NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, and I am using 32-bit Vista. Updating the video drivers did not help. I probably would have flashed the BIOS by now if the ASUS update tool was being more helpful. I should sleep before doing anything more destructive, but I am pondering whether it is more expensive to test a new video card or a new motherboard.

Alternately, what’s the current sweet spot for price/performance on video cards these days? If it is a dead video card, I will be shopping.
Or I could spend less time online. Or I could swipe my wife’s laptop.

: Zubon

We’re good with software around here, not hardware.

On Politeness

It is very important that you speak well, especially online, where text is your voice. Whenever possible, you should type in full sentences with correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Be polite, being sure to spell out “please.” Avoid profanity. Be seen to express courtesy and give others the benefit of the doubt. Avoid not just “drama,” but dramatics of any sort that might distress others or give them the impression that you are an immoderate person.

That way, when you call someone a stupid douchebag, it will mean something.

: Zubon

Send Valve to Hell

“You know why they call Australia the place down under? Because it’s the closest you can get to hell without getting burned.”  –Christian Shepherd, LOST

Is it any wonder that Valve Software is one of PC gamers’ favorite developers.  Sure they develop good games and even better ad campaigns, but when it comes player interaction, they win the internets.  Joe W-A lives in Brisbane, Australia.  He mods Valve games.  And he got mad as a cut snake when Valve flew out some fans to preview Left 4 Dead 2.  He did what any gamer would do and emailed them asking why he wasn’t also flown out to Valve’s HQ to show off his modded content, like a campaign for L4D.  Gabe Newell responded he was boycotting the campaign, but Joe W-A could fly Gabe and Erik [Johnson] out to Australia.

The obvious answer.  Start a fundraising campaign to fly the two Valve heavyweights to Australia.  The money will go towards the plane tickets, be returned (if possible), or sent to Child’s Play.  Even other Valve employees want to see Gabe and Erik out of the office for a while.  The internet is for fun.

–Ravious
she’ll be apples

H/T: Rock, Paper, Shotgun