Cheap Ass Gamer - Blogs - joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php A current listing of cheap video games, video game sales and video game deals: CAG en Sat, 18 May 2013 13:01:31 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Cheap Ass Gamer - Blogs - joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php Using cheats in video games now being called theft http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=25208 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:29:25 GMT You may have heard of this exploit in Dead Space 3. The addition of micro-transactions already... You may have heard of this exploit in Dead Space 3. The addition of micro-transactions already raised a stir. Well, because they have started this crap, it's causing some to reframe simple cheating into a perceived crime. Calling exploits and cheats in a video game theft is twisting things around. No, sloppy development and rushing out games is not the issue people.

Because we have not fully come to terms with what a digital "thing" is, we have been simplistic and incorrectly applied the conception of physical objects to them. Digital theft is completely different than physical theft. Now, we are here on this slippery slope. What new imaginary things will be called crimes?

When I buy this, I won't update it until I'm done with the campaign. Oh no, I've incriminated myself!


Dead Space cheat undermines in-game micro-transactions
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21367852

Exploits in the bestselling video game Dead Space 3 are allowing users to obtain in-game items for free.

The "cheats" could prove costly to the title's publisher, Electronic Arts (EA), which has introduced a system that charges users cash for extra equipment in the sequel.

The move has proved controversial with some, since the title already costs about £40.

EA has the ability to issue an update to remove the workarounds.

However, a spokesman said the firm had no comment on the issue.

Dead Space 3 is an action-horror third-person shooter set on a frozen planet.

Part of its challenge is locating scarce in-game resources needed to create ammunition and medical packs in order to tackle the title's monsters.

In previous games in the franchise, the user needed to find credits in order to buy upgrades. However, the new game introduces real-money micro-transactions as a way of allowing players to add equipment faster than would otherwise be possible.

Ethical dilemma
The bugs were first reported by the news site Game Front, which subsequently posted a video online showing how they worked.


News of the exploits did not take long to spread online
One involves the player's character walking into a specific building, picking up an item, walking out - and then returning to find a new item has appeared. This can be repeated an unlimited number of times.

The other requires the user to go to a different destination, to pick up an item and then to select save and quit before returning to the game.

Within hours of the discoveries, news of the exploits spread to other gaming sites and social media networks.

Several users commented that they did not believe using the cheats was unethical because Dead Space 3 had already been priced as a "premium title".

Bolt-on costs
The rise of micro-transactions in video games can be traced to Asia, where they were introduced as part of efforts to combat piracy.

Rather than charge users to buy software, publishers opted for a "freemium" model, in which the basic product was given away but premium add-on services or features involved payment.

It has since become a common feature in the wider smartphone market.

Console titles have long offered the ability to buy additional downloadable content (DLC) such as extra levels, characters or clothes. However, it is relatively rare for them to charge money for items intrinsic to a character's progress through core content.

Dead Space's developer, Visceral, has stressed players do not need to buy items in Dead Space 3 in order to finish it - but gamers have been concerned about what the innovation signalled.

"People are wondering why do you have to pay more in order to get a weapon that is in the main game anyway," said Keza MacDonald, games editor of the IGN news site.

"The way EA is presenting it is that if you want the weapons earlier then you can buy them. But it's a slippery slope because if most games start adopting this as a tactic you're effectively devaluing the money gamers have had to lay out in the first place."

Legal questions
Cheats have long been a feature of video games.

Magazines such as Zap Attack used to publish pages of tricks in the 1980s to help gamers boost ammunition or health points. Websites offering walkthroughs and other cheat sheets now continue that tradition.

However, one solicitor told the BBC that the practice became "legally grey" once micro-transactions were involved.

"If you go into a baker's to buy a bun and they give you the wrong change and you walk away knowing you have been given more change than you handed over in the first place, that's theft," Sara Ludlam, an intellectual property expert at Lupton, Fawcett, Lee & Priestley told the BBC.


Buying in-game content lets players spend less time having to hunt for hidden in-game resources
"So, arguably if you go into this game knowing you are supposed to be paying for these weapons and you notice a glitch allows you to accumulate them without paying, that's theft as well.

"But it is arguable because it's a new area."

There is no suggestion that EA would pursue such a case.

Game Front has also made clear that it believed the "farming" of resources within Dead Space 3 should not be equated with in-game purchases.

"Game Front is committed to providing its audience with walkthroughs, easter eggs and cheats for popular video games," said its managing editor Mark Burnham.

"This video was an example of Game Front providing that service, and did not present an ethical dilemma.

"The strategy described in our video merely allows players to efficiently gather resources freely available in the game; the only way to instantly gain resources in the game is to purchase them through the micro-transactions feature." ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=25208 Are video games the cause of the CT massacre? http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=25005 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:32:35 GMT Have people wondered WHEN will Americans express the same outrage over the deaths of innocent... Have people wondered WHEN will Americans express the same outrage over the deaths of innocent children abroad (via Obama's murderous drone program) as they do with the shooting of children in Connecticut. This is violence they can actually exercise more control over compared to controlling the actions of a lone person.



If you are opposed to THIS killing of children please add your name to this petition. If you are for it, then don't sign it:
Ban Weaponized Drones from the World

And before any knee-jerk responses on this comparison, let me put forward the futurist George Orwell's quote: "The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them." And if you are racist (such as CAG Allahbomber) then please do make your true opinion know on the lesser lives that brown people (and others) hold to Americans. By "American" you mean the white ones. Definitely not the black shooting victims we leave to violent circumstances in our great nation.

Here's a good article reflecting my point making the rounds:
Is America Like Adam Lanza? U.S. Drone Strikes Have Killed 176 Children in Pakistan Alone


Quote:
"Yet, something about this seems entirely hypocritical; we as Americans largely ignore when our own government, in countries around the world, murders innocent children but when an American child dies, our media and our nation can focus on nothing else."
The Sandy Hook Elementary shooting that took place in Newtown, Connecticut, is going to affect the loved ones of the victims for years to come and this is something that should not be ignored.

Although most of us do not know the victims or their families, the news reports each and every detail of the event, and our hearts and thoughts go out to those who are suffering.

Yet, something about this seems entirely hypocritical; we as Americans largely ignore when our own government, in countries around the world, murders innocent children but when an American child dies, our media and our nation can focus on nothing else.

Meanwhile, U.S. drones are killing children and terrorizing families abroad. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found that 176 children have been murdered in Pakistan alone. And along with drone attacks, an average of 4.8 children are killed per day in Afghanistan where earlier this year, a U.S. sergeant is reported to have killed 9 children. Will these murders be deemed worthy of our thoughts and prayers, or even our news headlines?

These deaths abroad are tragic too. These deaths will also affect the loved ones of victims for years to come and their lives are no less-worthy of thoughts, prayers and government (or civilian) action.

Some will disagree with me and say that we should care about the deaths of children in the U.S. to a greater extent than the deaths of those abroad, because children living here are part of our nation. But most of us don't know the loved ones of the deceased in Connecticut any better than we know deceased in other countries. With all men (and children) created equal, we as Americans should care when any child is killed, not just the ones who happen to be born in a certain geographical region called the United States.

Here, we worry that our children might be afraid to go to school because there is now a 1 in 67,140 chance that their elementary school might be attacked. But we cause that same fear when we allow our government to fire missiles at schools abroad. Sadaullah Khan, a 15-year old boy who lost both legs in a drone strike says, "I used to go to school … I thought I would become a doctor. After the drone strikes, I stopped going to school."

Here in the U.S., parents worry that they might have to attend the funeral of their own child. But our government strikes fear into the hearts of parents abroad when it kills their children during funerals. When we worry about the safety of our children, we forget that it is our drone strikes, our money and our democratically-elected government that cause the same fear in select countries around the world.

And yet, Americans are going to spend thousands of hours supporting or protesting various gun laws to "save the children," here at home. But in reality, Americans could save many more children if they protested our own government's killing of hundreds of children abroad. But Americans won't spend their time this way, even if it would save more children's lives. It seems that Americans should care when any child is murdered, not just when American ones are.



Now, on what some of you have been waiting for... video games...
Have folks seen the Republicans great analytical insights to the root causes of this incident? Drum roll please... VIDEO GAMES!!!! I mean really... how pathetic an attempt to divert the attention away from our gun masturbatory culture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37XEy...ZjYjQ&index=10


And if you still haven't signed here, please do:
Ban Weaponized Drones from the World ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=25005 Most likely the most realistic Presidential debate tonight! http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=24776 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:03:55 GMT Moderated by Larry King nonetheless. (I wonder how the hell he agreed to do this.) Being broadcast... Moderated by Larry King nonetheless. (I wonder how the hell he agreed to do this.) Being broadcast by Al Jazeera, RT America, Link TV, and now CSPAN has agreed as well.

Obviously, not covered (censored) in the US mainstream media, but I wonder how many here have actually heard of this? If you have watched the Dem/Repub debates then you have a sense of the actual lack of real debate in them. Really stage managed affairs.

AJE: Third-party candidates face off in Chicago

Huff Post: Third-Party Debate To Be Broadcast By Al Jazeera English, RT America, But Not Major Cable News Networks

And this is worth checking out over the jokes that that are broadcast as "debates"? Obama and Romney, sadly, agree on important things therefore providing no real option.
Exclusive: As Obama and Romney Agree on Afghan War, Israel and Syria, Third Parties Give Alternative ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=24776 <![CDATA[So, Repukes don't like online gaming...]]> http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=24706 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:29:46 GMT So, I posted this in the Politics vs thread... So, I posted this in the Politics vs thread http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=329569 and since its related to video games, I figured the wider CAG community should consider this...

Talk about demonstrating the lack of serious and legitimate criticism of your opponents. Online gaming? From the party of the brain dead and pious charlatans... This is just another example of the disconnect of this party and their irrelevance. When do people think the Republican party (staying their current course) will render itself irrelevant to the nation as the old conservative fucks die off to make way for the youth?

World of Warcraft hobby sparks US political row

The gaming hobby of a political candidate has become an issue in a state senate race in New England, US.

Maine Republicans have created a webpage revealing that Democrat candidate Colleen Lachowicz plays an orc rogue in World of Warcraft (WoW).
Ms Lachowicz's liking for back-stabbing and poison in WoW raise questions about her "fitness for office", they claim.
Ms Lachowicz has hit back saying the attack showed the Republicans were "out of touch".


Weird focus
The state senate seat known as District 25 in Maine, is currently being contested by Ms Lachowicz and incumbent Republican Tom Martin. Voting takes place on 6 November.


As part of its campaign efforts, the Republican party in the state created "Colleen's World" - a website that compiles information about Ms Lachowicz's orc rogue Santiaga. An orc is a mythical human-like creature, generally described as fierce and combative.


In a statement that accompanies the webpage, Maine Republicans said playing the game led Ms Lachowicz to live a "bizarre double life" that raised questions about her ability to represent the state.


The page also detailed some of the comments Ms Lachowicz has made while talking about her orc rogue, in particular it highlights her affection for Santiaga's ability to stab things and kill people without suffering a jail sentence.


"These are some very bizarre and offensive comments," said Maine Republican Party spokesman David Sorensen in a statement. "They certainly raise questions about Lachowicz's maturity and her ability to make serious decisions for the people of Senate District 25."



The site also lists many of the 400 comments she has posted to left wing political news and discussion site Daily Kos. Maine Republicans have also posted leaflets that reproduce the information on the website.


"I think it's weird that I'm being targeted for playing online games," said Ms Lachowicz in a statement. "Apparently I'm in good company since there are 183 million other Americans who also enjoy online games.


"Instead of talking about what they're doing for Maine people, they're making fun of me for playing video games," said Ms Lachowicz.
It is not clear what effect the Republican tactic will have on the state senate race in Maine. However, many messages of support have been left on Ms Lachowicz's own webpage with some pledging cash to her campaign.
Gaming researcher Ladan Cockshut said the row revealed how gaming can be seen as a bad thing to do.


"In my work, I've spoken with many people who in their regular lives have roles of significant responsibility (as doctors, managers, or educators) but who choose carefully with whom they disclose their gaming activity," she told the BBC. "And disclosing their gaming activity is often accompanied by a degree of apology or embarrassment."


But, she added, having a gamer run for office was a "heartening" development.


"This would seem to run contrary to the other stereotypes that we love to assign to gamers: that they are lazy, antisocial people who don't have a 'real life'," she said. "Maybe this will trigger some dialogue about our perceptions of gamers and the role that games can and should play in modern society."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19842704

EDIT:
And the Reddit on this is pretty entertaining especially to gamers.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/commen...o_game_habits/ ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=24706 New Internet Censorship Will Shut Down CAG Forums http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=23075 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:04:29 GMT In beautiful bipartisan love fest, the politicians have joined to push through crap legislation... In beautiful bipartisan love fest, the politicians have joined to push through crap legislation that will empower monopolies (and govt) to shut down those that say things they do not like. Sites where users post links can be held responsible for what is on other sites and be shutdown simply by allegation. It is a bill masquerading as an anti-piracy bill. Watch this very good breakdown or read below. Take action and send to your friends.

Stop Online Piracy Act (Scary Facts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE5WlyQRvaM

SOPA, Internet Censorship Bill, Lauded By Both Parties In Key House Hearing
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...n_1098255.html


What can you do to stand up for your freedoms online right now? (Courtesy of http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patric...b_1116510.html)


The PROTECT IP Act Is Very Real and Very Bad — Call Now to Block It
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/1...l-now-block-it
The PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) is the evil step-sister of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the much-criticized Internet blacklist bill introduced in the House last month. They’ve got a lot in common — both bills would allow the government and private rightsholders to censor the Internet for Americans, and both bills have faced strong opposition from regular citizens, business leaders, and public interest groups.
In one way, though, PIPA is much worse: while SOPA is still in the House committee stage and has been the target of extraordinary public opposition, PIPA is already out of committee and poised for consideration of the full Senate. That means PIPA is a few dangerous steps further along in the process of becoming law. And with only a few weeks to go in this legislative session, the Senate may try to rush the bill through before the public has a chance to respond.
We're not going to let that happen. Despite their efforts to push this through under the radar, folks who care about the Internet and innovation are tracking this bill and getting the word out. You can help, in an old-school and very effective way: Pick up the phone.
Right now, the best response to this threat is to let your Senator hear your voice, explaining why you as a constituent think PIPA is such a bad idea. That’s why we’ve joined with many other public interest groups, including Public Knowledge, Fight for the Future, Demand Progress and others, in asking the public to call in to the Senate.
Even if you’ve already used our action alert (and thank you), please take a few minutes now and get on the phone with your Senator’s office. Let them know that Internet censorship is unacceptable.
Here are some talking points for you to mention during the phone call:
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a constituent of the Senator.
I think S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act, is a bad idea, and I hope the Senator will stand against it.
PROTECT IP is overbroad, and could be used as a tool for online censorship. Further, it creates a bad precedent internationally for fragmenting the Internet.
Thank you for your consideration, and for acting against this dangerous bill.
Find your state in the list below to get the phone numbers for your Senators. If your Senator has already spoken out against PIPA, his or her name will be in bold text. Please call to thank them for their position!
Big content is not going to give up on the idea that the best way to protect its slow-moving business model is to ensure that it gets to dictate the pace of innovation. Let’s send a signal that the next generation of creators and innovators will not let big content decide the future of the Internet.
Help us spread the word!
Once you’ve called your Senators, there are still more steps you can take to fight this disastrous bill. Tell your friends, in person, on Facebook, or on Twitter, and ask them to call their Senators. You can join over 100,000 Americans who have signed a Demand Progress petition — Senator Ron Wyden has promised to read from the list if he needs to filibuster the bill. And if you haven’t yet used our action alert, act now to e-mail your legislators with your opposition.


EDIT:
Just because Americans wouldn't support this doesn't mean it can't or won't pass. The fact this is even being proposed is a problem and shows complete disregard for the interests of the majority. Most Americans across party lines believe that the rich get off with paying as little as they do. Yet, tax breaks for the rich are being passed. Consider all the draconian legislation passed (ie USA PATRIOT Act, etc) and the unconstitutional acts committed by the past two administrations. Now, the US gov't can revoke your citizenship or assassinate citizens based purely on hearsay (al-Awlaki case). You can and are wiretapped, spied on, etc, etc. Sorry, the Constitution means nothing to these people. People need to wake up, get off their couch, and take action as the OWS movement is doing.

Thanks for the link vamn. ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=23075 <![CDATA[Move Isn't As Far Behind Kinect As Many Gamers Think]]> http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=23068 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:34:48 GMT I've seen this perception that move is a failure posted here quite a bit so I thought I'd pass on the knowledge. Does this dispel anyone's negative perceptions on Move? And anyone's perceptions that Kinect is a runaway success?

Move Isn't As Far Behind Kinect As Many Gamers Think
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/10238.html

Slow and steady wins the race.
At the start of the new motion-sensing battle between Sony and Microsoft, it was Kinect that bolted out to an early lead. But over time, sales have fallen off while Move's sales have remained solid.
The result? Move is now only about a million units behind Kinect in overall sales, and even that gap may be closing. Kinect hit 8 million sold in only two months, and then topped 10 million in March. Move has reached the 9 million mark (although we need recent stats). Said IndustryGamers' Steve Peterson:
"The Kinect's weakness has been the sales pattern, where 8 million devices sold in 2 months, and then in the next 10 months only 2 million more devices were sold. This has led to some concerns."
Ubisoft vice president of marketing Tony Key added that it isn't healthy to sell only during the holidays, and they'd "really like to see them [Microsoft] have some major launches during the non-holiday part of the year." There are a lot Kinect bundles out there for the holiday rush, after all.
If the two different sales arcs hold true next year, Move should surpass Kinect, especially if Sony can release a few much-needed AAA titles for their motion-sensing system. ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=23068 BP responds to a coffee spill http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=15047 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:49:08 GMT If you haven't seen this, its a humorous take on a serious disaster. It occured to me a while ago that major oil wells in the mideast go for 50-100 years. This one in the Gulf was to be a big find for BP and right now, no one can say how long this leak could go on for. Look at all the damage in this short time and consider the damage a year, decade, or 50-100 years would do. So how long before ALL the world's oceans are infected and then die? What happens once all the oceans die? This could very plausibly be the beginning of the end. And it doesn't appear the leadership and the rest of humanity have come to terms with the real potential of this disaster. Well, here is some humor that sums up how inept the people who created this are. I highly recommend going to the website I got this from below. They have some phenomenal stuff on there.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0...layer_embedded


Quote:


This is about the level of intelligence operating the biggest organizations in the world.

They - Wall Street, the Pentagon, the oil companies etc. - know how to build large cash extraction systems.

But they don't know - and don't care - what to do when those systems break down and become catastrophically destructive.

Meanwhile, members of the news media and government are so busy filling their faces like so many pigs at the trough, they're oblivious to any consideration of the rights of individuals and the future.

This is not a "Louisiana problem" any more than the levee failures after Katrina were a Louisiana problem. This is a sign of a system so corrupt, so callous and so inept it threatens everyone.

What do we do?

Start calling a spade a spade.

The corporations that run this country and the politicians they use to exercise power need to be recognized for what they are. We are occupied by a force that's hostile to our interests as a people and that threatens our very survival.

That's ALL the oil companies, ALL the big banks, ALL the agribusiness giants, ALL the pharmaceutical companies and health care conglomerates.

It's a system designed to rape and exploit while simultaneously suppressing dissent and even superior science and engineering.

Source: http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/868.html
Here's another excellent one. Private industry attempting to enforce control over public spaces. Sadly, most people would comply.

BP goons block news media

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/865.html ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=15047 EXCLUSIVE: New Video Smuggled Out From Mavi Marmara of Israel’s Deadly Assault http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14871 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:56:57 GMT *EXCLUSIVE: New Video Smuggled Out From Mavi Marmara of Israel’s Deadly Assault on Gaza Aid... EXCLUSIVE: New Video Smuggled Out From Mavi Marmara of Israel’s Deadly Assault on Gaza Aid Flotilla


http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/1...s_out_video_of


Ahhhh... so there is another side of what the IDF released. For some reason, I thought that information from a MILITARY organization is always reality. Now how about those other tapes? Or are those on the blockade list?



Israeli Document: Gaza Blockade a Form of "Economic Warfare"
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/10/headlines#9
The McClatchy newspapers has obtained an Israeli government document that describes the blockade of Gaza not as a security measure but as a form of "economic warfare." Sari Bashi, the director of the Israeli group Gisha, said the documents prove that Israel isn’t imposing its blockade for its stated reasons, but rather as collective punishment for the Palestinian population of Gaza.

I posted the above in the vs mode thread if anyone wants to see the rest of the info.
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=263003


Also from the above interview...

Quote:
"Interestingly, also, a group of top Israeli Naval reserve officers Sunday publicly called on Israel to allow an external probe into its commando raid of a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla." They wrote a letter to Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Forces chief. "The Navy officers denounced the commando raid as having 'ended in tragedy [both at] the military and diplomatic levels.'"

They said, "We disagree with the widespread claims that this was the result of an intelligence rift. In addition, we do not accept claims that this was a 'public relations failure' and we think that the plan was doomed to failure from the beginning." They said, "First and foremost, we protest the fact that responsibility for the tragic results was immediately thrust onto the organizers of the flotilla." That’s Israeli Navy reserve officers demanding an independent investigation.
So, how's that for the blind who believe what the idiot box tells them? ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14871 Amazing Speech from an Iraq War Vet http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14680 Mon, 31 May 2010 16:51:54 GMT Can't say anything more than the moving words of this vet. He truly provides a big picture...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akm3nYN8aG8

This is the original link:
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/797.html ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14680 Telecoms’ Secret Plan To Attack Net Neutrality: Target Video Gamers And Stoke Fear... http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14412 Wed, 12 May 2010 16:32:31 GMT Here's a very important revelation and news. Net neutrality is something the larger gamer community needs to get unified and behind. We risk a lot by sitting idly on the sidelines. Fee and "premium" access will be another way to milk money from us. As if extra fees like Live and comparable services, EAs new online pass system, monthly game subscriptions, aren't enough. Also, imagine the clusterfuck and network issues when you create a segregated network. Some will have issues mixing with other gamers.

Make no mistake, in all their BS about democracy, these people are really talking about taking more power over consumers. Well, these guys are caught in the act of plotting. So what are WE going to do about it? One way is creating groups, supporting existing ones ie EFF, and steering existing ones, like the ECA, into taking a strong stand against this. Read on...
http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
http://www.eff.org/


Telecoms’ Secret Plan To Attack Net Neutrality: Target Video Gamers And Stoke Fear Of Chinese Censorship
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/05/11/...ty-grover-afp/

Net neutrality, a guiding principle for preserving a free and fair Internet, means that Internet service providers are not allowed to discriminate based on content for its customers. However, telecommunications firms — like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and others — are firmly against net neutrality because they would like to increase their profits by deciding which websites customers can see, and at what speed. The telecom industry has dumped hundreds of millions of dollars into a lobby campaign against net neutrality. As the FCC now takes up net neutrality rule making, the industry is pushing an “outside approach” of hiring front groups and astroturf operatives. This morning, representatives from various front groups launched a new coordinated campaign to kill net neutrality. Speaking on Capitol Hill, these front groups took turns decrying the evils of the principle of a fair and unbiased Internet. LULAC, which is funded by AT&T, called Net Neutrality “Obamacare for the Internet.” Americans for Prosperity — a corporate front group founded by oil billionaire David Koch but also funded by telecom interests — unveiled a new ad smearing net neutrality as a “government takeover” (the initial ad buy is $1.4 million dollars). And Grover Norquist, representing his “Americans for Tax Reform” corporate front group, said net neutrality is like what China does, “putting policemen on every corner, on the street or on the Internet.” Watch it:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUiyP...os=1x7-nNoPjNg

ThinkProgress has obtained a PowerPoint document which reveals how the telecom industry is orchestrating the latest campaign against Net Neutrality. Authored by representatives from the Atlas Network — a shell think tank used to coordinate corporate front group efforts worldwide — the document lays out the following strategy:
– Slides 7-8 calls for the campaign to target “libertarian minded internet users and video gamers” and “social conservative activists” with anti-government messages and a rebranding of net neutrality as “Net Brutality.”
– Slide 9 calls for a strategy of creating a Chinese blog to compare net neutrality to Chinese government censorship, outreach via social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
– Slides 10-11 detail how representatives met at Grover Norquist’s infamous “Wednesday morning meeting” to orchestrate the new campaign. Norquist is known to use his Wednesday meetings to plot strategy and conservative coalition building towards lobbying goals.
The PowerPoint was created on April 14th, shortly before the campaign website officially launched. The “Net Brutality” website relies heavily on Americans for Prosperity sources, as well as a website called NetCompetition.org — which is openly funded by the American Cable Association, At&T, Comcast, and the US Telecom Association.
During the Jack Abramoff investigation, Norquist was exposed for selling support from his front groups to corporations. In one damning e-mail, Norquist is promised $50,000 dollars in exchange for providing his Americans for Tax Reform support to one of Abramoff’s clients. Today, Norquist was not only parroting the PowerPoint talking points at the press conference, but he also brought in other key conservative movement leaders and Republican lawmakers to the event.
In addition to the front groups, the loudest voice against net neutrality is still Glenn Beck, who has smeared free Internet proponents as Marxists and Communists, and has adopted the attack that net neutrality constitutes a “government takeover.” However, it is important to realize that even Beck is being fed with opposition research dug up by operatives at Americans for Prosperity. This research document, compiled by Americans for Prosperity staffers, lays out point by point the attacks Beck has used in the past few weeks to disparage net neutrality supporters. If Beck picks up this new outreach to video game enthusiasts and the false comparison to Chinese censorship, then the impact of the “Net Brutality” PowerPoint will be even more apparent.
Telecom firms like AT&T and Verizon are among the most profitable in the world, yet America lags behind other countries in terms of broadband access and speed. Instead of dumping lobbying money into anti-net neutrality front groups and fear-mongering campaigns, the telecom industry should invest in improving service and accessibility. ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14412 <![CDATA[On bloated developer costs and Demon's Souls selling 4x expectations]]> http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14030 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:49:10 GMT First a congratulations to Atlus on their sales success with Demon's Souls. I read this article and it talks about their games and sales expectations. They sold almost four times their expectations in North America. Here's a bit from the article.
"Atlus planned to sell 75,000 copies of Demon’s Souls in North America. The critically acclaimed game surpassed three times that number with 280,000 units in sales by the end of their second fiscal quarter, February 28, 2010."

If Atlus planned on only 75,000 in sales in this region then I assume they budgeted for that to make a profit. As I check vgchartz, they sold 200k in Japan and 540k in the Americas. Now, my question is why do many developers have problems making a great game without having to spend so much money? If they didn't they would be able to charge less per game in theory. Not the $60 cost of new games. And then they would sell more new copies. Which they all seem to want to do.

With the nickel and diming approach of DLC which unlocks features already on a game disc, developers complaining about the sales of used games, and whatever crafty way to charge more, maybe developers are just spending way too much. Demon's Souls is a great game and was nominated for game of the year by a number of outlets. So, why can't other developers (who even pump out sequels which gain from the initial outings costs) keep to a non-overbloated budget? I don't know what they pay all the staff, but maybe their pay is still in a bubble from the recent economic bubble that just burst. If we look at the industry, even "successful" games have staff laid off. Granted, I think that execs will lay off everyone else while they may have the most bloated salaries. Atlus increased their quarterly sales by five times from a year ago. Why is it some games need to sell 400,000 or 1 million to get in the black? While Demon's Souls does so with far less?



Demon's Souls Sales:
http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.p...689&region=All
Demon’s Souls Sells Triple What Atlus USA Expected:
http://www.siliconera.com/2010/04/14...-usa-expected/ ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=14030 So, our military kills civilians... http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=13806 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:53:12 GMT So, this is horrid shit news for today but its just like another episode of a sitcom. People will... So, this is horrid shit news for today but its just like another episode of a sitcom. People will forget after a day or two. It's not like people (who don't hide their head in the sand) didn't know this goes on with our military. This incident is only out there and known because it was leaked. If you don't know by now, here are sources on this story. Basically, Wikileaks.org released a bombshell of a video depicting US troops opening fire into a crowd of civilians who have no weapons. The "weapons" are the oh so lethal video camera and tripod of journalists on the ground. There was no firefight that the military claimed after their "investigation." The military would not release the video to Reuters who the 2 journalists belonged to. And further, the soldiers shot at a van of people trying to help a wounded man and they shot 30mm rounds into 2 children. Yay USA! If you watch the attitude, especially the end, it reveals a callousness as the soldiers show no remorse. They even laugh and hope that the wounded civilians try to shoot them with the nonexistent gun. And command sanctions this all the way.

Our culture has truly become perverse. We are desensitized to the horrors of war thanks to our gov't, "news" media, and entertainment media. This includes video games. The soldiers really sound like what you would hear playing COD4/5/6/any FPS on XBox Live/PSN. But, isn't this what is needed in to maintain a highly militarized society? One that supports invasions, occupations, covert interventions, death squads/terrorists (El Salvador, Nicaragua, etc), drone bombings, fomenting civil wars in Africa and elsewhere, is the #1 arms supplier to the world, and I could go on and on.

Well, rant over. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts for and against mine or whatever is on your mind. Although, the machine has conditioned us to steer clear of important issues that concern our society and go... play video games?

Here are some sources on this topic:
N.Y. Times, Weekly Standard join in a falsehood By Glenn Greenwald
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/gl...ths/index.html

Coverage and interview with Wikileaks founder:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/6...pe_us_military

Full video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqHpy...eature=related

Brief article:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebe...el=emailNation

US gov't is attempting to shut down Wikileaks
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barret..._b_512050.html

From the Democracy Now interview, I thought this really sums up this incident and our military apparatus in general:
"These are not bad apples. This is standard practice. You can hear it from the tones of the voices of the pilots that this is in fact another day at the office. These pilots have evidently and gunners have evidently become so corrupted, morally corrupted, by the war that they are looking for excuses to kill. That is why you hear this segment, “Come on, buddy! Just pick up a weapon,” when Saeed, one of the Reuters employees, is crawling on the curb. They don’t want him for intelligence value to understand the situation. The man is clearly of no threat whatsoever. He’s prostate on the ground. Everyone else has been killed. They just want an excuse to kill. And it’s some kind of—appears to me to be some kind of video game mentality where they just want to get a high score, get their kill count up. And later on you’ll hear them proudly proclaiming how they killed twelve to fifteen people."
]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=13806 Study: Wii actually useful for this group... http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=12754 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:59:17 GMT Happy Friday!
Looks like the Wii is not as bad a system as I thought... It's great for people going senile!!!

Seriously, this is good news for the average person. But, I'm sure reading informative books would accomplish this and more. But, as Americans we have such an aversion to reading relevant and worthwhile non-fiction.


Video Gaming Just Might Fight Aging
Experts find physical and mental benefits as people grow old

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- Slaying orcs, charting military campaigns and gunning down bad guys might not sound like things seniors would be interested in pursuing for fun or exercise.

But they might want to start, some experts on aging say.

Research has found that off-the-shelf video games have the potential to help seniors age more gracefully, keeping their minds sharp and responsive through game play.

"There's a growing body of evidence that suggests playing video games actually can improve older adults' reflexes, processing speed, memory, attention skills and spatial abilities," said Jason Allaire, an associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University and co-director of its Gains Through Gaming Lab.

With the advent of the Nintendo Wii, there's even the potential that video games could provide seniors with an outlet for physical exercise.

The Wii uses special controllers that require arm and body movements, and a number of games have been developed for the system specifically to provide an exercise program.

One study found that a Wii bowling game boosted the heart rate of players at a senior center in Pensacola, Fla., by about 40 percent. The game required that the players, who were in their 60s, 70s and 80s, hold the controller like a bowling ball and swing it to hit the pins in a virtual bowling alley.

"The Wii is a perfect vehicle because it is so easy," Allaire said. "It's in a lot of senior centers already. Older adults already tend to use it."

The potential of video games to keep minds sharp was highlighted in a 2008 study in which 40 people in their 60s and 70s were asked to play Rise of Nations, a real-time strategy game for computers that can be found in many stores that sell video games.

"We wanted to see whether we could take an off-the-shelf game and see fairly substantial changes," said Art Kramer, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who participated in the study.

Researchers measured the cognitive abilities of the players, none of whom had played any video games for at least two years. They then had half the group play Rise of Nations for nearly 24 hours total over an eight-week period.

Follow-up tests found that the seniors who played the strategy video game improved their performance on tests of memory, reasoning and cognition. There were particular improvements, Kramer said, in what's called executive control processes -- abilities such as planning, scheduling, dealing with ambiguity and multi-tasking.

"As we get older, we show declines in many of those abilities," he said. "As a result of doing certain things, we end up doing them less often. The kinds of processes that were exercised in the video game were some of the processes that older adults show deficits on."

Allaire is part of a team that has been given a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to do further research on whether and how video games can boost memory and thinking skills in the elderly.

The researchers plan to have seniors play a Wii game called Boom Blox that involves using weapons such as slingshots and cannonballs to demolish on-screen targets. The research will also involve World of Warcraft, an online role-playing game, Allaire said.

The plan is to assess three aspects of video game-playing that are thought to drive cognitive improvements in older people, Allaire said. They are:
  • Attentional demand. "You have to pay attention to what's going on on the screen and react quickly," he said. "The more attention you expend on the video game, the better you get at focusing your attention."
  • Novelty. "There's a lot of research that, when we're put in novel situations or are learning novel things, it activates our brains," he said.
  • Social interaction. "People who stay more socially engaged have more cognitive function," he said. "We think people will interact with each other through collaborating and playing the game."


Though the research efforts show the possibilities of using video games to help aging adults, Allaire noted that no studies have shown a transfer of video-game skills to real-world activities.

"Is it going to help you remember to take your medications, or to remember what you wanted to buy at the store?" he asked. "That really hasn't been proven."

Kramer said that seniors should consider video games one of a number of things they can do to keep themselves sharp.

"I would not suggest that video games would be the only or even the best way to exercise those cognitive functions," he said, noting that physical exercise, social interaction and diet are already proven ways to promote mental abilities as you get older. "I would recommend they get out and ride a bike. I would recommend they learn a new language."

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on healthy aging.
SOURCES: Jason Allaire, Ph.D., assistant professor, psychology, and co-director, Gains Through Gaming Lab, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.; Art Kramer, Ph.D., professor, neuroscience and psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill.; presentation, American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, May 27-30, 2009, Seattle


http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...iclekey=112615 ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=12754 A legal win for video games!! http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=12207 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:51:58 GMT I was happy to see this. I can't for the life of me understand why these people cannot see the utter hypocrisy and stupidity of banning M rated games and not banning Rated R movies. If both, there is at least some logic to it outside the free speech issues.

For all the BS blame and knee-jerk reactions video games get, I am glad that games get a proper defense like this.

Judge: CTA can't ban ads for video games with mature content

January 8, 2010 3:05 PM

A federal judge is telling Chicago's mass transit system it can't ban ads for video games that have been rated mature or adult because of their violent or sexual content.

Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer said in a 22-page opinion Thursday that the Chicago Transit Authority's ban appears to violate the right to free speech.
The CTA imposed the ban a year ago after it was criticized by a television station for allowing an ad for the video game Grand Theft Auto IV in buses and trains. It said it was concerned the ad
could encourage youth violence.

The CTA issued a statement Friday saying it disagreed with Pallmeyer's order and was reviewing its options.

-- Associated Press





http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2...e-content.html ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=12207 Terrorists do not know they are terrorists http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=11141 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:50:25 GMT From an AP article on Yahoo. Clinton faces Pakistani anger at Predator attacks... From an AP article on Yahoo.
Clinton faces Pakistani anger at Predator attacks
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_clinton
During an interview with Clinton broadcast live in Pakistan with several prominent female TV anchors, before a predominantly female audience of several hundred, one member of the audience said the Predator attacks amount to "executions without trial" for those killed.
Another asked Clinton how she would define terrorism.
"Is it the killing of people in drone attacks?" she asked. That woman then asked if Clinton considers drone attacks and bombings like the one that killed more than 100 civilians in the city of Peshawar earlier this week to both be acts of terrorism.
"No, I do not," Clinton replied.
I would respond to Mrs Clinton that rarely do those who use terrorism consider themselves terrorists. This includes America. Most of those Americans identify as terrorists, like al Qaeda, consider themselves freedom fighters. The US labeled Nelson Mandela and the ANC as terrorists in their battle against the racist white South African gov't that was their ally. Nobody with any sense considers them terrorists today. George HW Bush's CIA helped the racist regime capture Mandela. Cheney voted against a resolution to support freeing him. Ronald Reagan even said "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist." This shows the relativity of the application and recognition of "terrorists" that escapes most Americans but known by their leaders. By now, I have lost most of my fellow Americans reading this because of their own tunnel vision which is so well shaped by those in power.


In summation, what the US is engaging in is terrorism. "Collateral damage" when its done upon "other" people is acceptable to Americans. But this is terrorism. Sorry to wake some up out of their stupor.

It you have an interest in your own history (most Americans don't), here is a nice history of terrorism. Killing Hope is an expertly researched book.:
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Bl...liam_Blum.html

Have a great Friday!!! ]]> joeboosauce http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=11141