Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Klatch’s El Salvador Orange Bourbon, Stuart Scott still bringing his A-game while battling cancer, or hot garbage you hear from PR people, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is the most amazing trade show in the world. It’s such a cool and unique spectacle. There’s really nothing else like it…but that doesn’t mean you won’t hear stupid crap coming out of the show. Every year you hear about journalists whining and complaining about covering E3. They’ll write about how their feet hurt, how the food sucks, how they have too many appointments, etc. At the end of the day, they still get to see awesome videogames way before the general public. That beats the hell out of coal mining or shoveling dung at the zoo. For the life of me, I’ll never understand why journalists complain about going to an event that millions of people dream about attending.
One stupid thing I expect to hear over and over again at E3 2011 is how awesome the screen is on the Sony NGP/PlayStation Vita. I’m sure it will be a great screen, but I also expect a lot of writers to be all, “This AMOLED screen is amazing because it’s AMOLED!!!” A lot of videogame journalists can’t tell you the difference between TFT LCD, IPS LCD, OLED, AMOLED, Super LCD, Super AMOLED, and Super AMOLED Plus screens. They’ll rave about technology they don’t understand, simply because it’s new to them and the press release told them that it’s awesome (and they can’t be bothered to do research). I expect to read several articles that mention how awesome the Vita’s screen is, but don’t explain why it’s awesome and how it compares to other screen technology.
How about you guys and gals? What dumb stuff do you expect from E3 2011?
You hit the nail on the head.
Other things: Reggie is the man! Kinect looks to be awesome for more than casual gamers now!
Haha
I can't tell the difference between any of those screen technologies that you listed.
Finally! I'm ready to be an E3 journalist!
-M
Right, but someone reporting on NGP should be able to tell you the differences.
I can't tell either, but that is ok. It doesn't matter how "good" the screen is. The actual hardware behind it far more important.
Pixels on screen or rendered?
@WWDC next week
So far I'm not too thrilled with the way 10.7 is coming along. The springboard isn't something I want on my iMac, nor are the full screen apps. I think that is a little absurd on a 27inch screen. I read an article on Gizmodo about how this is the future and it is better for us to use a computer this way. I have to call shenanigans on the better part. I multitask a lot on my computer and switching whole screens or "apps" is not multitasking for me. I really hope the changes in 10.7 are optional and we can use the 10.6 style of using our desktops. If not, then this iMac is the last Apple computer I will ever buy.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they shouldn't strive to move forward, but not at the sake of eliminating tried and true methods.
Guess we'll see more next week but as of right now, I won't be upgrading my OS. I can care less about iCloud as far as music is concerned. I have a Google Music invite and I haven't acted on it. I may have deleted the email. At no time have I ever wished I could stream my music. I have lots of capacity on my device! The supposed limitation of music purchased solely from iTunes is a huge turn off as well. In fact the only thing I'd want iCloud for is a backup accessible from a multitude of devices that can do a restore similar to Time Machine.
I really want to see the keynote before I start making up my mind.
At my last job, my boss was a guy who was pushing 50, but was in better shape than most 30 year olds I know. Smart guy too… but he was ignorant to advances in technology. He was running XP and wondering why he couldn't do the Windows 7 stuff. He had tried 7, and hated it. I tried to explain to him that XP was an incompatible OS for some later software, and he seriously could not understand why I couldn't change a setting so that he could run the latest software of some crap.
Long story short… I'm probably going to move ahead whether I want to or not because I fear becoming the old dog who doesn't understand the new tricks.
I'm not worried about getting behind the curve necessarily. I don't endorse modal computing as my only option for applications. I use multiple monitors or a huge monitor for a reason. Full screen is not for me. That is mainly what I'm getting at with this. I don't care for widgets/apps on a springboard either. On a limited capability device such as a tablet or smartphone it is fine but not on my main machine. Otherwise there is no use in me spending over $500 on an iPad every 2 years.
In the above scenario you gave you can still run multiple things on the screen at once. iLife 11 for example takes up the whole interface. I will not use it for that reason. Aesthetics are fine but I feel it hampers my productivity.
I also want to see how much the new iCloud is integrated into 10.7. This version of OSX will be very interesting for that fact alone.
Every OS upgrade I've gotten for myself has been a direct result of Photoshop for like the past 7 years. Adobe releases a new batch of software that runs best on the latest OS's. I get the OS's usually right after I get Photoshop, but don't install until I overhaul the OS. This is probably what's going to keep me current for some time to come.
I used the example about my boss because I too am starting to ask questions like "why can't they keep it how it was" and "why do I have to learn 100 new things in order to do 1 new thing I want to do". I know the answers to these questions, but that doesn't mean I welcome it… I see that as a sign that I am getting old.
Really, it's Win8 that has me asking this stuff. I'm still pretty in the dark when it comes to Lion and I want to hear more. Apple has always had a "classic mode" to a degree, and I doubt 10.7 will be much different. As for the iCloud… I doubt they will make it a mandatory thing. That's just a bad idea. But. I bet it will be fully integrated to a point. I see it as basically just another drive to save to. I'd want to access it the way I access any other drive I have.
Yeah I hear ya on Win8. I'm not sure what they are bringing to the table besides ARM and Touch. Win7 has DX11 for games but I have yet to see this implemented really. I like Win7 and will stick with it as long as Win8 isn't mandatory for work or anything critical to me.
I expect to hear how awesome a number of Nintendo games are simply because they have Mario on the cover.
anyone else go on the playstation store to get their free stuff?
is anyone else having major issues with the store, or is just me?
Well, EVERYONE is trying to log on at once. So it's a bit sketchy right now.
It took a few retries… but I'm downloading LBP and Infamous now.
I'm gonna wait until later tonight (around 3 or 4 am eastern) to pluck out the free PS+ stuff.
@ Thundercracker
A thought just occurred to me.
If have say… 3 PSN accounts (like somebody I know)… what's to stop you from DLing ALL the free games?
Machine ID I believe.
well i only got one, because of a glitch…it errored on me halfway through downloading Dead nation, so i didnt get that one…the only one i really wanted. Went to the playstation forums, and apparently this is a very common problem. People are either getting only 1 game, or in some cases, none
I just changed HDDs and I tried to sync my trophies and it syncs for 15-20 minutes and then errors out.
While redownloading all of my 56 games I had on my system I was scrolling through my 514 downloads and it kept saying it had an error and would stop populating anything but I could continue to scroll.
BTW started this morning putting stuff back on my console. Started at the first download and am only putting things I've bought back on, made it from #514 finally down to #292 tonight. Lots to go though.
HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!!!!
The same thing happened to me… and I fixed it.
If you already started the DL, then from the UMB, go to Playstation Network > Account Management > Transaction Management > Download list and see if you can just restart the DL.
If you HAVEN'T started the DL or it's not in the list, Go to Playstation Network > Account Management > Transaction Management > Services List > SCEA Promotion > and it was either game 1 or 2. Select either Game 1 or Game 2 (whichever one it was) and reselect your game.
@PSN Online Storage
Has anyone used this yet? I filled up my 120Gb hard drive so I am/was moving saves over to my online storage and I get a warning message that says something to the effect of "you can only download from this ONCE every 24 hours"
WTF use is that? Also it is only 150Mb of storage and you can only send one file at a time. Some of my games have 20-30 different saves. I can only back up a few games.
Also formatting for FAT32 blows when you have 120gb hdd. I had to delete every game I have (56 of them) in order to fit the files onto a 32 Gb partition. i still don't know if it is going to fit. First attempt said I needed 57Gb of additional storage…..um how????
I expect to hear a lot more people pushing 3D games, motion, and mobile. Not looking forward to that at all.
I would really like Squad Enix to drop their EXP limits in FFXIV right now. I have started playing it and that has annoyed me to the degree that I have written another gaming law.
"Never punish a player for wanting to play your game."
I am not looking forward to articles trying to tell me why I need to get down with motion gaming.
I've run my own studies and determined that motion controls being the future is hogwash.
My son is 8. For a few years, he was only allowed to play the Wii (no sticky hands on my 360 controllers). After a while, he had his own controller to play with me and he got his own 360.
We have more Wii games than he has 360 games. He wants to try Kinect, but he doesn't see himself playing all his games like that. When given the choice, he wanted the Wii in my daughter's room instead of his.
So my study concludes that even to the younger generation, motion controls is just a popular alternative that is most likely a fad. Like flannel shirts in the 90's, checkerboard sneaks in the 80's, and being a hippie… motion controls seem like something that's here to stay… but I doubt it is.
Regardless of what I read about them, I now know that I have science to back up my theory.
So, it's just like Duel Monsters (I mean 3D).
Looks like I have to quit my job in August. It has me worried about how I am going to pay bills but I am excited because I got accepted into the Registered Nursing Program, so now I start the 2 and half long years of MORE school. It looks like I will be quitting right at my 7 year mark here. Happy and sad.
RN program is 2 and a half years there?
does that include your pre-reqs?
school here is just 18 months…either way, good luck bro. Big bucks, no whammies
Yep 2.5 years counting clinicals.
No I just spent the last 2 years getting all of my pre-reqs done. I went to school 11 years ago and got my A.S's in Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, so I didn't need my core classes. And some of the classes I just finished were considered concurrent classes with the program but it is impossible to get into the program without them.
They use a 30 point system. To get all 30 points you have to have all of the pre-reqs AND the concurrent courses and live in the same County as the college. A's are 3 points and B's are 2 and so on. I had 25 points. Without the concurrent classes you can only have 18 points. My friend had 21 points and she got a rejection letter saying only people with 26+ points got in.
The LVN program here is just 18 months. But our local hospitals aren't staffing LVNs any longer. It is way easy to get into the LVN program but I make the same hourly as an LVN does, so I couldn't see myself going to school to make the same amount of money.
After I get my Associates in nursing (RN) I will only be one class away (thanks to my other degrees) from getting my BSN. Only need to take a technical writing course to get into that.
bittersweet indeed.
Currently it is way more bitter than sweet……I wish my truck was paid off and I wouldn't be nearly as worried.
@Slicky
Trust me, I understand. I had the same dilemma when I went back to school for more hours. If at all possible, live VERY frugal until you are no longer employed and see if you can pay the truck off…..or take out a student loan and finish it off with that lol.
Right now I'm doing random contract work. Usually an accountant with hours for the CPA and good work experience is an easy job to find/get. I have an interview with Freeport McMoran this friday. Hopefully that works out.
Good Luck on your interview.
I doubt I can fit 1 more year of payments into 2 months. If nothing else I will apply for a job as a Bouncer at one of the local bars at night.
If you haven't seen X-Men: First Class yet do yourself a favor and go see it. Excellent movie.
I was waiting for someone to tell me if it was any good or not. After X3, I'm really hesitant to see anything else from the franchise for fear of getting robbed again.
Besides, I am kind of bummed that they didn't use the original first class. The only one of the original class they have is Beast and he wasn't even blue and furry back then.
-M
I have a huge problem with Alex being the older Summers brother, but I want to give the movie a chance.
Can anyone who's seen X-Men first class post their spoiler-free (as if the commercials didn't already give the entire story away) "not-a-review" thoughts on the movie along with a recommendation?
RROD's recommendation is already at +1. Who else saw it?
-M
@iceman
I will be seeing it later today. If u can wAit for it, ill post as soon as i get home
It is the X-men movie that stayed the closest to the real story. If you are not familiar with Sebastian Shaw and the Hellfire club then study up on it because they are a big part of the movie. They did a great job with Charles(Professor X) and Erik's(Magneto) back story and friendship. I think it's the best X-Men movie yet. Don't let that abomination known as X3 stop you from seeing this great movie.
There are two really good cameos too.
@iceman
i just got home and found time to share my thoughts. Overall it was a good movie, definitely a must see if you can catch a matinee show. They changed an origin story which kinda irked me but i was like you know i'm not going to let this affect my judgement of this movie i'll go with it. The acting was pretty good and the story was pretty good as well. I saw this once commercial for it where they said it was just as good or they compared it to "The Dark Knight" and let me tell you idk what that reviewer was thinking when he saw this movie but it's not even in the same neighborhood. Overall i give this movie 2.5 stars because i'm beginning to think of more inconsistencies with the movies which they try to tie in with one of the cameos and now it's making me hate this movie. i'm really thinking they should reboot the entire franchise again.
Thanks, guys, but I'm afraid that I won't be seeing any movies in theaters this summer. My wife is on bed rest per the doctor's orders and I can't leave her by herself. I guess I'll have to catch it when it comes out on DVD.
-M