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Denver, 4:08 PM
Sat Nov 21
30 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/22/09
I don't want to have to deal with the devil that is AT&T. #iphone3gs
10/22/09
10/22/09
However not everyone is like me and you can see this in the high sales of 'pretty' 3d yet bland console game clones which pop up on the app store. Gamelofts new feature will indeed help with one of the main jobs of the iPhone (as a status symbol) and people can show of their more detailed textures to jealous eyes, of course until apple decides to paint each new model in a distinctive neon colour which can be seen from miles away. #iphone3gs
10/22/09
But this is by far the easiest solution... #iphone3gs
10/22/09
I don't understand why would people think that having better specs on the same architecture is a bad thing to do over time, when we've been dealing with the exact same problem since forever with PC software.
As long as the developer puts the effort it can be done.
10/22/09
A PC you can tune yourself over time. You can modify it, customize it, whatever you want.
An iPod is whatever it was the day you bought it. And that's pretty much it, pending software updates. So in a sense developers HAD to deal with that problem on PC.
Things are a bit less straightforward when factoring for multiple platforms. The solution from this post is really a "dumbed-down" version. It's most definitely not an efficient solution or a proper one. But it will get the job done.
Honestly the biggest flaw with the App store is the amount of garbage that shows up in it. Like you said, "As long as the developer puts the effort it can be done." But since a lot of developers WON'T do that, maybe we'll see the worse developers weeded out of the App store marketplace a bit? The side effect being a couple of decent indie developments might not show up... #iphone3gs
10/22/09
10/22/09
@TuxBobble: Thanks, I read again the article and I agree, the solution gameloft is implementing doesn't sound ideal, however I disagree in the part of that in the PC market is valid and the iPhone/iPod market is not. It's even less of a trouble on the iPod because there's really just two different targets for graphics... the ones with the old devices and the ones that want to do the fancy graphics. And a developer can choose to catter to the lower common denominator and have their app working on everything, or do extra work for the fancy graphics and detect the hardware and load assets accordingly.
On your point of the Appstore having too much crap, it's a valid point but still not sure what has to do with the graphics handling. There's as much or more crap software going on on PCs, that doesn't diminish the fact that there's great software for any device. The real problem is the fact of having it all on the same place, i agree, and Apple should develop a better way of sorting their lists according to "quality".
On your third point, and this also goes @Dreamwriter: Yes most developers will not make the effort, be it for budget, technical skills or simply lack of effort, but if you've been paying atention it's comming to a point where a lot of quality games are starting to show on the appstore and outshine the other ones... so the standards are growing and the effort is going to have to be made in order to sell your software.
For the price argument. That is a really valid argument and yes, there's gonna have to happen. However, it comes back to the point of: If a developer cannot afford to make a version taking advantage of the fancy graphics, they can still make great games using lesser ones that work in all of the devices.
Now ths was a long ass post and i'm gonna stop now! #iphone3gs
10/22/09
Just imagine if the Ps3 slim had an upgraded Cell n RSX, and you'd go out n buy games that would then check if you have the old model then play that, and the PS3 Slim gets it running slightly better, then in a year most folks will be developing Slim only games, oh and the PS3 Speedy is out and that gets two versions made for it too.
The DSi n PSP 2000+ have faster hardware inside, but its locked down so the game works the same across all platforms.
And we all know that in a year the iPhone 4G or whatever they decide to call it will be out, and that too will have faster games.
Yeah you get the advantage of better looking games if you can afford to upgrade each year, but the developers need to make 2 versions of each game, and wel,l you need to get a new device each year. #iphone3gs
10/22/09
Second of all, having to deal with a range of specs is no different than what PC developers and users have had to do since the dawn of PC gaming. So personally, I don't see a problem here. #iphone3gs
10/22/09
Apple are currently marketing it as a handheld console, so I shall treat it as if that's what it is.
Most 'older ' phones run off Java and aren't marketed as gaming devices but phones.
and its not a PC, it isn't modular. So a range of specs shouldn't be expected.
Apple want to market it as a gaming device, they treat it as a gaming device. #iphone3gs
10/22/09
Yes, it's not the ideal for a gaming console, however it IS the same as PC gaming and developers don't seem to have a problem with it. Also, consoles mantain an inflated price over time, wich is kind of ironic since we are talking about an Apple product, but then again, the ipods have been getting cheaper AND getting better specs, but that's besides the point.
I just don't see the big problem many people are seeing. There are three different processor speeds on the iphone/ipod AND two different ammounts of ram, but it's the exact same architecture and a program developed for one should work with all of the devices. The only problem here is that if you want to do great graphics for the new devices you also have to put a checker so assets are handled differeny from any of the three devices. Wich is what people have been doing with handheld PCs and PCs for ever.
If a developer cannot afford it he can develop software for the lowest common denominator and leave it at that. It will work on all devices. #iphone3gs
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
the genesis and the saturn co-existing was no big deal, but the genesis add-ons were atrocious, especially the 32x. the sega cd (especially with the jrpgs we never saw here), was a decent addition to a genesis owners library in its prime.
but basically, the sega cd was to the genesis what natal and the ps3 wand are to 360 and ps3. im sure there will still be ps3 games and ps3 wand games (unless its a HUGE flop) co-existing with ps4 shelfspace. #iphone3gs
10/22/09
10/22/09
What we should worry over is how much bloat is being added to support alternate hardware configurations. #iphone3gs
07/23/09
Regarding the general lack of positive portrayal of cannabis in video games, I think this comes down to the fact that, for the most part, games tend to shy away from anything controversial. Political issues where public opinion is largely mixed are avoided by most developers.
07/23/09
07/23/09
I have Crohn's disease and pot helps me maintain my appetite plus some pain alleviation. Unfortunately, I don't live in a state thats legalized Marijuana for medicinal purposes. Sometimes I go a couple days without wanting to eat because it makes me nauseous. Of course, the getting high part is nice too.
Still, I get a little self conscious and annoyed when pot references invade entertainment. Even though drinking plays a heavy part in media and almost always in a positive light I hate when people throw out 420 or some other stoner culture reference. Its like...yeah I like to smoke pot...but that doesn't mean I have to talk about it like we're part of some cool dudes club.
At the same time, I know that if pot smokers don't speak out then we'll go back to popular culture believing pot causes people to jump out windows and commit random acts of rape.
07/23/09
Also, it all sounds kinda low-brow. They're making a GTA clone and saying "yeah...huh-huh...weed!" I haven't played it, but from the art, shots, and stuff like this, it sounds like some suit is sitting in a room watching rap videos and yelling "Pot! The kids love the pot!"
It just seems stupid and there just because they can, which makes it hardly worth mentioning in passing, let alone a story on this site.
07/23/09
07/23/09
07/23/09
07/23/09
07/23/09
07/23/09
Prohibition just doesn't work, and the USA of all countries should know this. People should be educated, not controlled. If people knew beforehand the effects of these drugs, we'd have a lot less addicts.
07/23/09
07/23/09
07/23/09
It is not that hard at all. Just go to any heavy drinking party or concert.
07/23/09