Personally, I find it amusing that the next generation of Steve Wozniaks are much harder to create given the crippling level of (some form or another of) proprietary/IP/DRM/hardware locks implemented by companies like Apple.

The Unreal Engine is perhaps the easiest engine to create levels in, at least for me. I never got the hang of making levels in Source or any of the id Tech engines. Of course I am just talking the base level design. After that I don't know which would be easiest to add the effects and like to as I never got that far with the other two major ones. I like the looks of this, but agree that it is hard to judge it until we see it in action with AI and character animation. I love Rage and what id is doing with id Tech 5, but the character's look like they are deep in the uncanny valley at the moment.

I also agree that consoles really need a good midterm refresh. Not a full new system, more like a 360.5 and a PS3.5. For the 360 upgrade it to XBox 360 Blue.
This hypothetical 360 features not just a Blu-Ray drive, but one ups it by going for Blu-Ray XL compatible. Controllers/remote etc. upgrade to bluetooth, though the old controllers would still have to work for now, the idea is more to setup for the next generation. Tie in with Win 7 mobile devices so you can pick plays on sport games from them, have a remote control in them, and some other games may tie to them as an option as well in whatever form developers feel like they can do. If possible without breaking compatibility with old 360 games (360 Blue exclusive games would be available so they wouldn't work on the old 360 as they come on Blu-Ray) a mild refresh to the graphics, more memory mostly, but if possible a Direct X 11 compatible chip, of course at that point you are nearly at a full refresh and not just a mid-generation refresh. I would say make Live free so you can do Netflix and online play for free, and user replaceable hard drives, but I doubt Microsoft sees that as part of their plans.
The PS3 would be much the same, upgrade to XL and if possible more memory and a slight graphics increase...
With both you can't really do too much for a mid-term refresh without moving to what is essentially a new machine.
Computers are always ahead of consoles on what they can do, but this new 7-10 year cycle is starting to show its age more than usual. I sure hope they don't go 10 years, 2 more years would be more than enough...though if they were 2 years out I would think there would be more rumors of what they are doing by now, so we probably do have more than that.

It's not in my nature to fault someone for being an ol' softy, so I can't begrudge your desire not to take a victory lap. I, however, will rejoice once I see the Hammer frog marched to the slammer. Thus always to the corrupt. He brought it all on himself, so good riddance. Besides, there's a line forming to fill his dirty shoes in Congress, so it was time for him to let the The Next Generation take his place. We don't need another fat Captain Kirk, do we?

In reply to this comment by NetRunner:
I agree with everything you said except the part about no sympathy. It's just how I'm wired. I have no sympathy for people who do something awful, escape justice, and then find some other hardship in life. But people who do wrong, and meet justice for their actions, I feel sympathy and pity for. I can't get happy about it -- I feel more sadness and some relief than elation.

I'm sure a 2 minute visit with him in prison would cure it, but still, I'm not big on doing a victory dance when justice is served.

In reply to this comment by kronosposeidon:
As far as crime and punishment is concerned I'm also a liberal:

- Our drug policy is an abomination, and mandatory minimum sentencing is outrageous. It's the main reason the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world.
- Three strikes laws should be eliminated
- The death penalty is barbaric
- Our criminal justice system is still racist. Black men and other persons of color are convicted at higher rates, and are more likely to be incarcerated and receive longer sentences than white dudes that commit the same crimes.

HOWEVER, I have NO sympathy for any type of public official who betrays the trust of the people he is supposed to serve. That goes not just for politicians, but judges, prosecutors, and cops too. One of surest ways to to bring about the downfall of a society is to have dirty public officials running the show. And I'm not partisan about this. If DeLay were a Democrat, independent, socialist, Green, or what have you, I'd feel the same way about him.

The only thing I don't want to happen to the guy is for him to get raped or otherwise harmed while he's in prison, but then I feel the same way about everyone in prison. Prison shouldn't automatically mean rape, beatings, and the possibility of homicide, but when you have prison overcrowding because of harsh sentencing laws, it's hard for guards to ensure the safety of all inmates. And let's not forgot that it's mostly Republicans like DeLay who have been the authors of all the tough-on-crime legislation in the first place.

So DeLay got what he deserved. Also Republicans like him (and many Democrats) have never served the interests of the people, but of their corporate masters. These corporate assholes in turn fucked up the economy through fraud and other criminal behavior. Many, many people have lost their jobs or their life savings or both because of this shit. They have created misery on an enormous scale. They are criminals as well who also deserve to go to prison. Madoff is just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands more need to be sent to the clink, because Madoff and other people like him didn't do this shit all by themselves.

Those are the people that Tom DeLay served. I hope he receives the maximum sentence. Not a drop from my bleeding heart will be shed for him.



In reply to this comment by NetRunner:
I did hear about that. I'm one of these seriously bleeding-heart liberal types. Now that he's going to jail, I feel sorry for him.

Still, it's good to see that parts of our justice system still work.

In reply to this comment by kronosposeidon:
You might have seen this story already, but if not, then it should make your Thanksgiving happy.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'jean luc picard, patric stewart, data, brent spiner' to 'jean luc picard, patric stewart, data, brent spiner, star trek, next generation' - edited by calvados

There's the Chinese space program which might push America into another space race. And there is of course a good chance that commercial space flight will be developed when he grows up. Maybe he can pilot the next generation orbital Virgin Galactic craft.
>> ^harry:

He'll have to grow up fast if he wants to become an astronaut. ISS will be deorbited in 2020. And I don't really see anyone developing any kind of new manned space missions.

>> ^BoneRemake:

>> ^Yogi:
>> ^BoneRemake:
at first I thought that was the guy off of tv show buffy the vampire slayer. then I realized its lil Crusher from The next generation.

Who do you think he played on Buffy?

yea that Danny strong guy. ( edited because I put wrong link)
yea I am asking for a downvote I think but I honestly couldnt stand the show, no way in hell would I pay to watch that show, however if someone wanted to PAY ME then I most defenitly would. My sister watched that crud like it was had some meaning to her life or something...


D:


...also isn't it Wil with one L?

>> ^Yogi:

>> ^BoneRemake:
at first I thought that was the guy off of tv show buffy the vampire slayer. then I realized its lil Crusher from The next generation.

Who do you think he played on Buffy?


yea that Danny strong guy. ( edited because I put wrong link)

yea I am asking for a downvote I think but I honestly couldnt stand the show, no way in hell would I pay to watch that show, however if someone wanted to PAY ME then I most defenitly would. My sister watched that crud like it was had some meaning to her life or something...

>> ^heathen:

>> ^Yogi:
>> ^BoneRemake:
at first I thought that was the guy off of tv show buffy the vampire slayer. then I realized its lil Crusher from The next generation.

Who do you think he played on Buffy?

I'm guessing Jonathan?


WHAT?! The adorable awesome Jonathan?!? No sir...No I won't put up with this. You will go pay Hulu $10 a month and watch the entire Buffy series again sir until you know your place in the Whedonverse!

>> ^Yogi:

>> ^BoneRemake:
at first I thought that was the guy off of tv show buffy the vampire slayer. then I realized its lil Crusher from The next generation.

Who do you think he played on Buffy?


I'm guessing Jonathan?

>> ^BoneRemake:

at first I thought that was the guy off of tv show buffy the vampire slayer. then I realized its lil Crusher from The next generation.


Who do you think he played on Buffy?

at first I thought that was the guy off of tv show buffy the vampire slayer. then I realized its lil Crusher from The next generation.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Sure did. Like many Asian countries- Japan never really had much of abra burning woman's liberation movement. Women are often treated as a servant class and once married, solely for raising the next generation.>> ^rougy:

>> ^dag:
Tragic.

You see any of that there, Dag?
I've never been to Japan, but from what I've read it's a very structured culture.

*backup=[...snipped...]

Noooo, Adamaaaa! I trusted you!!!

In reply to this comment by GeeSussFreeK:
I won't give anything away then! Well except ADAMA is a cylon! Oops, wrong show. The show is rather tedious at times, it is like a slower version of BSG. In fact, its like if you slammed BSG and Star Trek next generation together.

I won't give anything away then! Well except ADAMA is a cylon! Oops, wrong show. The show is rather tedious at times, it is like a slower version of BSG. In fact, its like if you slammed BSG and Star Trek next generation together.