I wouldn't really call it a "trap". If you're buying a console when it's new at full price, sure, you're being taken for a ride, but give it a couple of years for stuff to be cheaper and it can work out reasonably well.
I used to be a major PC gamer but eventually the cost/benefit calculation went completely off the rails.
That said, I've not upgraded to the current console generation because I'm still waiting on something to justify it.
It’s surprising how well the Steam Deck plays new games and how much support has been added to older games for something with a form factor similar to the Switch and a price point that is lower than most computers or consoles with similar capabilities. It’s a big change to the cost/benefit calculation.
This reminds me of the Q&A section on Amazon product pages where someone will answer a question stating that they don’t know because they didn’t buy the item.
After my PS3 got the YLOD, I considered about purchasing a PS4, and then I thought: I would have to start from zero since it doesn’t have backwards compatibility. So, I went back to PC and my whole catalogue was there waiting for me. They are indeed a trap.
$700, but I agree that this was a stupid product. If instead, they introduced the slim at $350 and the pro at $500, these things would be hard to find on store shelves.
This is one sector where I am actually happy for AI to be available. I want to play a game where the NPC’s can say my character name.
That being said, I also want the voice actors to be compensated fairly. Maybe the guilds can set up a deal where using someone’s voice for training data is included.
I feel like the solution is pretty simple: if you want to AI copy someone's voice and put it in your project, you have to hire them and pay them as normal, and they have to give consent to let the AI use their likeness.
And this has to be on a per-game basis, to. Studios licensing a voice in perpetuity will eventually come back to the same issues.
For AI to truly be a net benefit to our society, it should be used as a tool by the artists to augment the output from the artists. It shouldn’t be a way of replacing them.
If a voice actors job goes from recording each and every line to recording samples for AI and helping to tweak the output, that’s fine. But the compensation stays the same.
That’s how it improves our world. Makes the human’s job easier without replacing them or affecting their compensation.
The way it’s currently on track to be used is how it improves the lives of the wealthiest at the expense of everyone else. No amount of futurist techno-jerking should distract from that. These are not tools for us to benefit from in any significant sense.
I’ve been trying to find the actual text of the deal to see if it fucks over the actors or not, but I can’t find the actual deal, just articles referencing it
You don’t need AI to do that, that kind of system can be made independent of AI. It’s just not worth doing for this one use case vs using it for a whole voice.
Honestly, the problem is that “AI” is a dumb term that is way over used in these situations. Outside of Science Fiction, AI has generally been used to describe what “the next big thing” computers can do.
Using a term like “Large Language Model” to refer to ChatGPT explains what it actually does. Or Deep-Learning Text to image models for the image generation.
I remember playing around with TTS on a Apple ][ plus as a kid, there is nothing new about that, but using statistical models to have them imitate a voice is new, but just lumping them all in with Artificial Intelligence, is just dumb.
Probably not, they don’t provide copyrighted files and Nintendo reeeeeaaaally doesn’t want to create precedent that decomp is fair use (which it probably is) which could make emulators 100% legal.
Generally, ripping for personal use is not litigated, only distribution. It may technically be illegal in most places, but then, reproducing someone’s work without compensation should be prohibited.
There was a point in the 1980s where PC games fully allowed and encouraged you to copy your games for backup purposes. They even had some companies who gave detailed steps explaining how.
What ended up happening is you owned a PC, your buddy owned a PC. You made two backups of the game. One for you, and one for your buddy. Now between the two of you, you buy half the games, because you buy one, your buddy buys a different one. And now you both have two games.
Now multiply that by however many friends you knew who owned PCs. You might buy 1 game, but own 15 games.
By the 90s, PC game makers did a 180, and were now trying to prevent archiving of their games, but it was too late. Laws had been written to allow for backup of personal data. Yes, you WERE breaking the law by giving your buddy the backup, but they couldn’t prevent you from creating the backup.
And in a pre-internet world, how would they ever even know you made a backup?
Of course companies wanted people to share the free demo versions but some full games did have annoying protection schemes in the '80s. Obfuscated data and purposely “bad” sectors on floppy; cardboard decoder wheels; asking for word #x from line #y of page #z of the game’s manual, or, similarly, a page of codes printed in black ink on dark maroon paper to prevent photocopying… leading to folks distributing cracked versions and the cracking tools themselves!
To be fair, it was a pretty ridiculous time. Computer club meetings just turned into floppy-copy-fests.
Then you had bands like SOAD, who released an album titled “STEAL THIS ALBUM!”
Some music stores put their own stickers on the cd cases saying things like, “please don’t”, it was a great time.
Not really; The emulator doesn’t use any copyrighted code, but the ROM is copyrighted. That’s just basic IP law.
What is fucked up logic is Nintendo encrypting their ROMs, then providing decryption keys on the console. So the emulator itself is legal, but actually booting a ROM requires decrypting it, which requires keys from a legitimate console. Nintendo has argued that those keys are illegal to use in an emulator, even if the user rips them directly from the console that they own. So you have the keys. You own the console they’re stored on. But it’s illegal to use those keys anywhere except on the console they came on, because Nintendo said so.
If you are in the US, ROMs aren’t illegal either. You’re just required to rip them from a cartridge/disc you acquired legally (including second-hand purchases) and you can’t distribute it to others. It’s the latter part that makes it illegal (but not at all immoral). If you wanna do that last part, god bless. Fuck these companies.
Problem here is Nintendo doesnt have much to sue them on. They were even pretty careful about how they named the project. Naming it Spaghetti Kart and making no references to Nintendo or even Mario Kart.
They can sue if they can prove that the code wasn’t reversed engineered in a clean room. Meaning nobody who wrote code looked at the original code. One person or group examines the software and writes the specifications and another group implements the specification without the teams interacting with each other. And usually a lawyer has to be involved and review the specification. The separation of teams is called the “Chinese Wall”
And depending on interpretation of the law if the people writing code used a decompiler that can be seen as breaching the “Chinese Wall” since the implementation is then not based solely on the specification but based on the original code.
It doesn’t matter that they have no basis for a lawsuit. Nintendo starts a lawsuit, no matter how ridiculous, and the developer has to pay a lawyer to defend or they lose to default judgement.
The US isn’t like EU. Everyone pays their own costs whether you win or lose. If you win, you can then start a new lawsuit to recover legal costs but that costs more money and you aren’t guaranteed to recover the money.
Edit: I don’t understand the downvote. It’s exactly how the US system works. I experienced it with a contractor. Contractor took the money and didn’t finish. I sued and won. He then sued saying he was owed all that money back for absolutely no reason. Of course it didn’t even go to trial but I still had to pay my lawyer to defend myself. Otherwise it would have been a default judgement for him.
Nintendo hasn’t really C&D any of the previous decomps. they can for people who upload the whole precompiled executable, but none of them that requires actually ripping the original assets yourself to create the required game.
Animal Crossing is next, as 6 days ago, the gamecube version of the game was decompiled to completion. It’s a extremely big prime candidate for modding IMO.
Nope. Ship of Harkinian and 2 Ship 2 Harkinian have been around for years with no issues from Nintendo, and this port is being developed by HarbourMasters, the same people behind those ports. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Dunno if you want a serious answer, but 'press start' titlescreens that start up an animation if you leave it unpressed too long are a throwback to when if a screen showed the same image for too long, it would fry the image on to the screen and leave a little ghost image, so screensavers were a screen saver. This allowed one to demo software and just leave it running without worrying about damaging the product hardware.
These days however it is totally unnecessary.
So that if you leave the room to make yourself a tea or something while the game is loading, your won’t miss the cut scene / beginning of the action / lose the game because it started without you present.
I pirated the game. The first part in the actual school was really fun. But once you get out into the world, you quickly realise that it’s just another generic open world game with outposts, collectibles, and general busywork that you’ve seen in every other open world game. It got boring very quickly for me and I never finished it.
I was very interested in mods for this game, people found all kinds of fun cut stuff that would’ve elevated this game so much like companions having commentary for several quests when you used a mod to bring them, and having actual consequences for using the dark arts. But it’s impossible to implement.
I agree. The magical feeling of being a student at Hogwarts soon evaporated as soon as you got a broom and didn’t really need to visit Hogwarts again and instead just fight endless random enemies, which gets pretty easy as you level up.
I was also disappointed by the endless voice acting. There was so much pointless talking and you couldn’t really control the outcome, all options seemed to result in a positive outcome when I just wanted to be a badass Malfoy but you’re not allowed, you jave to be a goody goody Hermione, juat in Slytherin clothes.
You see, the patent system is based on a “first to file the paperwork” basis, thereby enabling literal legalized theft. Neoliberalism at work, precisely as designed.
But also, patents should not exist. They need to be completely abolished. Copyrights are one thing, copyrights make sense, patents are another entirely, existing solely to facilitate intellectual theft from both individual entities and the broader public.
Not inevitable if people fought back… but people keep telling companies this shit is ok by paying them to screw everyone over. Companies used to have to replace your bugged cartridge with a patched one or risk backlash and profit losses.
Nintendo also sells all their games digital and you can’t transfer those.
Yet.
They’ve advertised Virtual Game Cards as a value-added feature to let your friends borrow games, but I’d bet good money they built out that infrastructure to comply with the potential for the EU to require used sales on digital.
There are Virtual Game Cards, purchased and downloaded digitally from the eShop. These can now be traded, sold, gifted, loaned, etc. to other friends, which was not previously possible. (This could possibly require an NSO subscription, but I’m not clear if that’s true at all.)
There are physical game cartridges, which contain the actual game on them, and (from what I’ve heard) most games will be distributed this way.
Then, there are also physical carts that contain only the virtual game license file, thus that you have to possess the physical cart in order to download or play the game. Apparently, there are Switch 1 games like this already, but they are rare.
With the introduction of Virtual Game Cards, it is no longer possible (even on Switch 1) to play more than one copy of a game online at the same time, even with a min NSO Family subscription.
People also lost their shit over the PSP Go being digital distro only in a physical handheld console, and lost their shit so hard that Sony of all people walked it back with the Vita and built cartridges back into the spec. (And it became retroactively excusable once it was discovered how easily the PSP/Go could be hacked, and suddenly the Go was the desirable model for emulation and, er, backups. But that’s neither here nor there. Under its intended use, within its original lifespan, it was a stupid idea.)
If you ask me the entire point of a game console is to be a dedicated platform that you stick games in and it always works. If I wanted to fuck around with downloadable only content, games that are only keycodes, patches, day 1 DLC, always-online DRM, and the inevitable day the servers all go dark I’d just game on PC. Which, come to think of it, in these modern times is exactly what I do anyway. I have game systems dating all the way back to the Atari VCS which I can to this very day if I feel like it slap a cartridge or disk in and they play. To me, there is immense value in that. Without that, there’s really no need for the “real hardware experience” for me. I can just emulate if any title comes out that I truly give enough of a shit about that I must play it. Anything else is just selling you a rental, but at full price. I find that immensely distasteful.
So I have zero interest in the Switch 2, and thus it will be the first Nintendo console in history I don’t own, or aim to own (I do not have a Virtual Boy, much to my shame and embarrassment.) I imagine I’m not the only one. Nintendo’s been trying very hard to lose the plot, which for a company as profitable and famous as they are takes a real concerted effort. Congratulations to them, then, if that’s the goal – What we are witnessing here is very possibly the beginning of the end for big N.
Not to defend Nintendo much here, but the situation with game-key-cards is at least better than that. You can freely trade, give away, resell them like any physical cart.
It’s a step up from digital in terms of freedom, but a step down in convenience (cart has to be in the system).
Compared to real, physical, data-on-the-cart media though, these are a definite downgrade.
I’m willing to bet that 95% of their customers do not have an issue with this. Probably the majority don’t even realize that someone could have an issue with this. People are already very used to having to do big downloads with games and a lot of switch 1 games were already requiring half of the game to be downloaded due to large cart costs. Also tbh I don’t think it’s really a preservation issue as long as piracy exists.
I’m willing to bet that the majority of people don’t really care about this. If they did, you’d see GoG do wildly better than Steam does. People like DRM and the convenience with having your library digitally available with the ease of installation, they just don’t like badly implemented DRM.
System based exclusives meaning you might not be able to play a game you want to in the future, expensive subscriptiona needed to play online, push to digital DRM controlled games… it’s almost like consoles killed themselves?
Well the alternative is PC gaming, and building a competitive PC aint cheap. I remember on launch people were building computers with similar performance to the xbone/ps4. But now that entry level dGPUs aren’t a thing, and even mid range GPUs are expensive you get fucked either way.
The PS5 is at least powerful on launch. The 4 was on par with like a regular APU.
I think more and more people have done the math on what your break-even is with a PC up front compared to noncompetitive digital console storefronts, needless forced obsolescence, and subscription fees.
It used to be easy to build a PC that was double the performance of a console for the same price. And it was even easier if you sourced slightly used current hardware. Now you’re lucky to get last gen hardware for a decent price used. The market is garbage.
Back in 2014 you could get brand new motherboards for ~$50, where it’s difficult to find any under $150 that provide decent features. I think the most expensive thing at the time was NAND due to flooded factories but everything else was super cheap.
A certified refurbished ps5 can be had right at this moment for $399, $450 new. I game on PC for many other reasons but the performance for value is pretty amazing on the ps5
You’re equivocating. In that instance I am responding directly to your claim that it’s far fetched to find a used one around the $300 point.
You’ll notice when you quoted me you also excluded the word “dips”. It’s dishonest for you frame my position as misrepresentative of the market by presenting my numbers without the couching I presented them with.
And why do you want to quibble over $50 when it doesn’t affect the discussion at all? Let’s just work with the higher prices, or even the brand new prices for that matter
This right here is the main idea, yeah, even when looking at the used market for PC components. Glad we found our way back, and even ended up in complete agreement at the end
As for the help you requested sifting through listings, used and refurbished are different things, you should know. Refurbished direct from Sony is $400, looks like gamestop will do it for $370. This sets a hard cap on used prices, so you’ll notice all the used listings (that actually sell) are below that.
You should also know they have websites for you to track what actually sells, and not just the listings that are left standing for a while because the price is mediocre. Worth checking that out so you know where to watch, and have a good chance of getting a good price when it appears. Best of luck to you
I’m not sure why you’re so resistant to it but I’ll just move on.
Oh, sorry yeah I can clear that up.
The reason I don’t feel like dancing for you is because you’re dishonest, aggressively self righteous, and obviously just want to fight about something meaningless for no reason.
Spend the extra forty bucks for something official if you don’t trust used, and don’t start dumb semantic arguments with people if you’re gonna want their help after. Not that I think you really do, mind. Just pointing out how ridiculous that whole pretense is.
Same, yeah I mean once you’re established the actual cost of games on steam is ludicrously small depending on your habits. I’m pretty much locked-in to pc gaming simply for the love of indie titles that more often than not do not get published to consoles. Lots of those games are just straight up free
We also have to consider the value the computer itself serves beyond just gaming. If you’re gonna get a $500 ps5 and you’re already going for an $800-$1200 computer, well hey. You could really get the best of both worlds without affecting the budget. Probably could even save money
But I think there’s also a big group that isn’t in that situation. I know plenty of people who rock like a chromebook and the cheapest xbox. Or people who only play like NBA 2k or something. Or people who play 1-2 big titles a year when they get caught in the hype train, and can enjoy them at 4k60fps for the much lower upfront cost
Personal anecdote. My PC cost me £900 in 2017. I haven’t upgraded it since. I have saved a significant amount of money in that time that would otherwise have been spent on PlayStation Plus for the benefit of playing multiplayer and the general higher price of games.
Even if you accept the argument that consoles are significantly cheaper in the first place, the point that PC ownership saves money in the long run is often overlooked.
I’ve never owned as many games for as little cost as I do now.
And the games that really demand the high-end hardware tend to be pretty rare in the grand scheme of things, not to mention less likely to be as good as the low spec games. I always joke with my friends that I might buy a killer new PC in the next year or so, but my most-played game will still be a 2D game from 2012 that absolutely doesn’t need it.
Why are people going for Bazzite for desktops? I’ve got it on a mini PC, and it’s great for the living room and travel, but even then the updater still keeps trying to apply an update from April 28th over and over again. Is it a good choice for desktop too? I’m on Kubuntu now but will probably shop around for a new distro with my next PC.
I’ve been using it on a desktop for more than a year now.
Never experienced that bug you mention but once the power went out during an update and it didn’t want to boot, so I just chose the second option at boot and it’s never failed again. Maybe something strange happened in your case, you should try it again.
Entry can exceed the cost of the console but if you upgrade your existing one, especially using used gpus it is dirt cheap.
Now factor in:
pc games online stores are cheaper, there are more opportunities for good deals. Usually 5-10 eur off a game.
you are not an idiot who pays for the internet twice, 80 eur a year. -pc game stores have better deals as console ones usually refuse to let the price down for a looong time since they have no competition
you are sonys bitch by owning a ps5 and you are not elegible for any refunds. Saving you tons of money since every pc game store lets you refund for any reason within a time window.
and even a pc double the cost of a ps5 will be cheaper very quickly.
After Nintendo saw how much the Wii succeeded while effectively being a gamecube with motion controls and a DVD drive vs. two “top tier titans”, they never bothered again with being at the forefront of tech, which possibly felt like a homecoming, considering the Famicom was kinda underpowered at release, but cheap to produce.
Imagine if JK Rowling had even a 1/1000th the artistry and intuitive empathy Pratchett had for the world, there would be millions upon millions of people out there with a life long love of a series who didn’t feel betrayed and forced to make a choice between being part of a community that textually hates them or continuing to love their childhood nostalgia.
<3 trans people <3 granny weatherwax and I really wanna get drunk with nanny og.
I just wish there was more media of the Discworld other than the books, a handful of movies and some games of the 90’s. It is such a big universe that has so much room for stories.
Yeah I don’t think his daughter is that hot on allowing a lot of people to do stuff with it. Last year’s animated Maurice movie was about the only thing in a long time, I think?
Absolutely but I do recommend whispering to yourself “get fucked JK rowling” before reading a book as it is good luck. You can substitute “eat shit” or whatever else feels right to you and it should still work fine.
I think Dwarf Fortress is going to hold the crown for ultimate fantasy world simulator. I don’t think ES6 will allow for systematic breeding and killing of mer-children for their valuable bones.
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