An ignorant man-child will post in this OTT

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[quote name='Ugamer_X']Almost everything sold through digital distribution by a large company has some level of DRM associated with it. It essentially goes without saying.[/QUOTE]Seen the Itunes Music Store lately?

And regardless, they're still distinct things. Not to mention that DRM is going to become less and less common, as consumers wise up and refuse to support products with it more and more.

[quote name='Mr. Anderson']Helps the environment, too. CDs don't decompose very well.

But I love that packaging!!![/QUOTE]Yeah, I definitely
 
[quote name='Liquid 2']You can do those all with digital goods that aren't DRMed.[/QUOTE]No thanks. I like professional packaging, not a bunch of home-burnt disks.
 
I think digital distribution is problematic as well, due to the lack of pricing options. Who wants a PSP Go when you get one possible price for every game?
 
[quote name='Rocko']I think digital distribution is problematic as well, due to the lack of pricing options. Who wants a PSP Go when you get one possible price for every game?[/QUOTE]
Steam has sales everyweekend, and some of those are outrageously good. Remember the Orange Box for $10?

I'd wager that as digitally distributed games mature and become more common place, DRM will start to drop off.
 
I highly recommend seeing Melt-Banana live, they play balls loud and kick-ass.

I'm gonna see 'em at Fun Fun Fun Fest. :D

[quote name='Liquid 2']Steam has sales everyweekend, and some of those are outrageously good. Remember the Orange Box for $10?[/QUOTE]

I got in on that, great deal. Oh, and don't worry about the delay. I'm at work anyway.
 
I don't understand, besides conveinence, why the end user would support digital distribution; at least in its current gaming form.

For the reason Gwenny listed above, to start. My PS2 breaks, I only have to replace the console and my library is intact. My 360 breaks, I have to replace that, as well as re-download all the games (not to mention working with the DRM). I don't like one game, trade it, give it away, etc...maybe even get my money back.

Which leads me to another concern: the pricing. Since packaging, physical storage and distribution, etc aren't needed in the cost, do you really expect to see a $60 full release be, I dunno, $40? XBox Live Originals should have shown that issue (where used games were still cheaper than the download, even at gamestop). Plus, what about retailer sales...you know, where we shop around and get the best prices.

Digital distribution of music isn't a good analogy for video games, either, as you can buy only the songs you like, or buy the whole album - which is nowhere near the price of a new game.

Sorry...I just had to chime in. Besides, I like packaging and seeing a collection stored on my shelf.

In other news...hi guys!
 
I suppose that's true, but most of the games Steam sells are sold physically as well. Certainly almost all of the high profile games like TOB.

I just don't see taking a marketplace where you can freely resell games to places like Gamestop or on eBay and moving them to such a restrictive arena as pure digital distribution to be good for the consumer at all. I mean, maybe it will work itself out, but I'm not really willing to sit through the growing pains.
 
[quote name='JolietJake']Got any new crazy stories JP Plume?[/QUOTE]

Hmmmm. Probably, but can't think of any right now. Pixie was hospitalized again and then on a picc line at home with visiting nurse who'd sometimes even show up, forcing me to help her maintain the line, despite my needle fear.

Really, just been super busy.

Um...I'm going back to chicago next month to do some more work on the next Security+ exam like last year. And I'm trying to win a macbook from Mountain Dew. But those things aren't really crazy...
 
[quote name='Liquid 2']Seen the Itunes Music Store lately?

And regardless, they're still distinct things. Not to mention that DRM is going to become less and less common, as consumers wise up and refuse to support products with it more and more..[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I knew you would mention that, that's why I said almost everything (and I was more or less not talking about music). Even without the DRM, the digital solution is still inferior to physical copies. e.g. If I want to buy Veckatimest on Amazon.com I have two options - I can buy the CD for $10 or download the MP3 album for $9. Let's also assume that illegally obtaining the album is out of the equation. The benefits to the download are the $1 cheaper price (likely varies) and the fact that I get the album instantly. With the physical copy I get the case/artwork, liner notes, immeasurably better sound quality, and I can sell it if I want. The MP3 only comes in at 256 kbps on Amazon, so I'm capped at that for the life of the product. With the CD I can put the music on multiple devices at any bit rate.

Of course, there are still going to be some who don't care about the benefits of the physical CD, but even without DRM, I'm still going to choose that over the download.
[quote name='Liquid 2'].

You can do those all with digital goods that aren't DRMed.[/QUOTE]
I'd like to live in this imaginary world where you can sell MP3s.
 
[quote name='PlumeNoir']Hmmmm. Probably, but can't think of any right now. Pixie was hospitalized again and then on a picc line at home with visiting nurse who'd sometimes even show up, forcing me to help her maintain the line, despite my needle fear.

Really, just been super busy.

Um...I'm going back to chicago next month to do some more work on the next Security+ exam like last year. And I'm trying to win a macbook from Mountain Dew. But those things aren't really crazy...[/QUOTE]
Just out of curiosity, what is the IT job market like up there? Because here i can't even find an internship. Getting sick of making minimum wage in my school's computer lab.
 
[quote name='Mr. Anderson']I got in on that, great deal. Oh, and don't worry about the delay. I'm at work anyway.[/QUOTE]Same. Which is why we're both here. :lol:
 
[quote name='JolietJake']Just out of curiosity, what is the IT job market like up there? Because here i can't even find an internship. Getting sick of making minimum wage in my school's computer lab.[/QUOTE]

Honestly, it sucks octopus balls. Michigan's economy is one of the worst in the country right now, so few are hiring. I was just speaking to a couple of people in my department that lost the accounts they were working on, as a matter of fact.
 
Things like Iphone apps and XBLA/PSN games aren't great for comparison regarding digital downloads. Even though the concept is the same and I disagree with it on principle, those items sell predominantly for $1-$10 and don't constitute major purchases (although there are still some problems with it). When you begin to talk about $20-$60 downloads, the story changes.

Steam also isn't great evidence in pushing for the advancement of digital distribution because the demographics of PC gamers remains largely different than the demographics for almost everything else in the universe.
 
[quote name='Rocko']What phone did you get?[/QUOTE]

t-mobile_samsung_sgh-t349.jpg
 
My friend got a PSPGo and said it's super sweet. Now I kind of want one. I probably shouldn't spend the money on it though.
 
[quote name='Ugamer_x']Yeah, I knew you would mention that, that's why I said almost everything (and I was more or less not talking about music). Even without the DRM, the digital solution is still inferior to physical copies. e.g. If I want to buy Veckatimest on Amazon.com I have two options - I can buy the CD for $10 or download the MP3 album for $9. Let's also assume that illegally obtaining the album is out of the equation. The benefits to the download are the $1 cheaper price (likely varies) and the fact that I get the album instantly. With the physical copy I get the case/artwork, liner notes, immeasurably better sound quality, and I can sell it if I want. The MP3 only comes in at 256 kbps on Amazon, so I'm capped at that for the life of the product. With the CD I can put the music on multiple devices at any bit rate.

Of course, there are still going to be some who don't care about the benefits of the physical CD, but even without DRM, I'm still going to choose that over the download.[/QUOTE]
All of those limitations/problems you're mentioning are the fault of the distributor though. Amazon and Itunes sell compressed mp3s because that's what people want; if they sold FLAC, the quality argument is not a fall back.
You can put your mp3s on any device that plays mp3s as well, since they're not DRMed.
The relatively equal cost is due to the RIAA and its equivalents. They're the ones that decided they want to sell music at the costs they do. The digital file has no value other than the enjoyment you derive out of it.

There's no arguing that digital distribution is essentially instantaneous and completely eliminates shipping, packaging, and physical manufacturing costs. The fact that no one has done it right doesn't mean it's no good.

Hell, this conversation is a consequence of digital distribution. I could be writing you a letter and we could be arguing back and forth that way, but we can do it for free and instantly here.

[quote name='Ugamer_X']I'd like to live in this imaginary world where you can sell MP3s.[/QUOTE]You wrote a big ol' paragraph about Itunes and Amazon right before saying that.
 
[quote name='PlumeNoir']Honestly, it sucks octopus balls. Michigan's economy is one of the worst in the country right now, so few are hiring. I was just speaking to a couple of people in my department that lost the accounts they were working on, as a matter of fact.[/QUOTE]
It really pisses me off that this is the job market i get to enter into.

fucking baby boomers, you screwed over my generation!!!:bomb:
 
I had a hard time with my last phone, but now that I have at least a half qwerty, it seems much easier. It was strange at first but now I'm used to it.
 
I love my qwerty, but I'm still a lot faster with t9. My texting grammar improved 100x with the full keyboard though, so it's worth it.
 
[quote name='Eviltude']My friend got a PSPGo and said it's super sweet. Now I kind of want one. I probably shouldn't spend the money on it though.[/QUOTE]You won't be the coolest guy in the OTT if you purchase one of those, man.
 
[quote name='Liquid 2']All of those limitations/problems you're mentioning are the fault of the distributor though. Amazon and Itunes sell compressed mp3s because that's what people want; if they sold FLAC, the quality argument is not a fall back.
You can put your mp3s on any device that plays mp3s as well, since they're not DRMed.
The relatively equal cost is due to the RIAA and its equivalents. They're the ones that decided they want to sell music at the costs they do. The digital file has no value other than the enjoyment you derive out of it.

There's no arguing that digital distribution is essentially instantaneous and completely eliminates shipping, packaging, and physical manufacturing costs. The fact that no one has done it right doesn't mean it's no good.

Hell, this conversation is a consequence of digital distribution. I could be writing you a letter and we could be arguing back and forth that way, but we can do it for free and instantly here.
[/QUOTE]
You're thinking waaay too abstract, mang. We can talk future this and future that but until then, DRM dominates and even when it's not a factor it's still inferior to a physical product. We're talking about billion dollar companies here, they'll do just enough the satisfy the public and nothing more.
[quote name='Liquid 2']
You wrote a big ol' paragraph about Itunes and Amazon right before saying that.[/QUOTE]
Please don't tell me you didn't get that, I meant resell.
 
I just don't like the idea of buying something I can't resell. Unless it's food...or toilet paper...or condoms.


Lol, just kidding, I don't USE condoms!
 
[quote name='Ugamer_X']You're thinking waaay too abstract, mang. We can talk future this and future that but until then, DRM dominates and even when it's not a factor it's still inferior to a physical product. We're talking about billion dollar companies here, they'll do just enough the satisfy the public and nothing more.[/quote]The public will wise up in due time. :cool:

[quote name='Ugamer_X']Please don't tell me you didn't get that, I meant resell.[/QUOTE]The only thing that keeps one from reselling mp3s is that they're valueless.

edit: and, you know, since one can produce an infinite supply, so they should cost no money.
 
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House of China always gives me this orange duck sauce and I never know what the fuck to do with it. What is it and what does it go good with?
 
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