There is a similar problem with Mediacom, and they do this on such a low level that it still replaces error pages and search results even when using 3rd party DNS. And their 'Opt Out' page seems to forget that you opted out every few days to every few weeks.
the thing is, people EXPECT to be able to return something for a refund if it doesn't work as advertised. now, seven days is a very long time, but it's much more agreeable than fifteen minutes or one day. ideally, everything should have a demo or trial version, but many things digital may just not be able to stand on their own at a price when their trial or demo is good enough and there aren't enough differences between it and the paid version. there is no simple solution, but a simple solution is what people want. honestly, stores with physical goods have to put up with much more when it comes to returns. they have to restock or sell as open box or in some cases send the item back to the manufacturer for repackaging. with digital goods, there is an infinite supply, so when a developer is against trials or refunds, it looks like money hoarding or a vote of no confidence in their products.
how many tweets with links does it take to be in violation of their trademark? i mean, is it 10? 20? half of their daily content? "when we see it, we'll know"? is there even a line?
i've watched a dozen or so of them because my mother has a nigerian friend who sends them to her and i borrow some. they're better than Tyler Perry movies!
though i've used one to prop a shaky table recently. if the ban is indeed *just* on phone books, that sounds shady, there should be a ban on everything or nothing... like those weekly sale circulars.
And that's about the only large company that does. Several people with a Japanese Wii or DS have gotten it repaired by Nintendo of America. I don't know of any other company that will knowingly repair an item made for and bought in another country.
A FTC study from 2008 showed that M rated Video Games are harder for underage consumers to buy than R rated and Unrated DVD's, R rated Movie Tickets and Explicit Music CD's.
This doesn't even take into account that all current videogame systems (Xbox 360, Wii, PS3) and every handheld (DSi, PSP) except the original DS also have parenal controls that can block the playing of games based on the game's rating.
The 360 and PS3 also allow parents to block communication such as voice chat on child accounts, and the Wii has a friends code system where you have to exchange friends codes to be able to communicate.
Many EA games use these codes to lock features out of the game period. So if you have a wife, girlfriend, brother, sister, cousin, roommate or friend who plays your game on your console, they can't play the full game because some features are locked into the EA Account that used the code.
So, even someone buying new is screwed if they aren't the only gamer in the house.
i can only speak for myself, but i watch LOST live when it airs because i have many friends on IRC, IM and forums who watch it live too, and we all talk about the episode as it happens, and we don't have to worry about things like pressing play at the same time or anything like that.
from what i read about this on CNET, they're giving small (and self) publishers the option to *add* DRM as previously, anyone who used their Digital Text Platform (DTP) didn't have any DRM on their ebooks at all. All of the "Big" Publishers use a totally different publishing platform that has a different (better?) DRM available for them to use.
you're right, it's terribly easy to pirate the harry potter books, all it takes is a quick google search for tons of hits. and that's the only option for people who want the digital version.
"Or let me put it this way. My car is built to ALLOW it to go 130mph. There some situations where I could do this at no danger to others. But if I do in a public place, can you guess who wouldn't be driving again for quite some time?"
the terms of service are fairly broad, and as many people have pointed out, there are many other games with glitches that were abused and people weren't banned. it's more like the speed limit on a set of roads was 'not too fast' and people who have been driving at their normal speed on the new road got a suspension, then someone updates their twitter to say that on that particular road, "not too fast" has a lower limit that other roads.
The reason Microsoft is banning people is because Activision and Infinity Ward are cheap.
Many of you may not know this, but Microsoft charges publishers for certifying game updates, and also charges them for publishing them (iirc, the first is free) onto Xbox Live.
Activision doesn't want to pay out more money when they already have a planned update coming. They just want to roll up the fix for this into their big update.
So the compromise is Microsoft bans the small about of people using this glitch so Activision saves a few bucks, which is pretty despicable considering the MILLIONS of dollars they made selling the game.
It's all about the almighty dollar, as is extremely evident in the handling of the PC port.
a few things
1) The Wii Remote was in development since 2001
2) The Wii was shown at e3 2005, but the Wii Remote wasn't actually unveiled until the Tokyo Game Show 2005 in September of that year
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There is a similar problem with Mediacom, and they do this on such a low level that it still replaces error pages and search results even when using 3rd party DNS. And their 'Opt Out' page seems to forget that you opted out every few days to every few weeks.
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no rent control? in NYC? MADNESS!!!
this is a big problem when trying to apply rules for physical goods onto virtual items
the thing is, people EXPECT to be able to return something for a refund if it doesn't work as advertised. now, seven days is a very long time, but it's much more agreeable than fifteen minutes or one day. ideally, everything should have a demo or trial version, but many things digital may just not be able to stand on their own at a price when their trial or demo is good enough and there aren't enough differences between it and the paid version. there is no simple solution, but a simple solution is what people want. honestly, stores with physical goods have to put up with much more when it comes to returns. they have to restock or sell as open box or in some cases send the item back to the manufacturer for repackaging. with digital goods, there is an infinite supply, so when a developer is against trials or refunds, it looks like money hoarding or a vote of no confidence in their products.
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so they don't want my money? ok...
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how many tweets with links does it take to be in violation of their trademark? i mean, is it 10? 20? half of their daily content? "when we see it, we'll know"? is there even a line?
Re: Point out the bad guy
yeah, i was going to point out the exact same thing, this is retaliation.
some of the movies are indeed pretty good.
i've watched a dozen or so of them because my mother has a nigerian friend who sends them to her and i borrow some. they're better than Tyler Perry movies!
i haven't opened a phone book in a decade
though i've used one to prop a shaky table recently. if the ban is indeed *just* on phone books, that sounds shady, there should be a ban on everything or nothing... like those weekly sale circulars.
Nintendo repairs foreign merchandise
And that's about the only large company that does. Several people with a Japanese Wii or DS have gotten it repaired by Nintendo of America. I don't know of any other company that will knowingly repair an item made for and bought in another country.
Violent videogames ar the hardest thing to buy.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-9939246-52.html
A FTC study from 2008 showed that M rated Video Games are harder for underage consumers to buy than R rated and Unrated DVD's, R rated Movie Tickets and Explicit Music CD's.
This doesn't even take into account that all current videogame systems (Xbox 360, Wii, PS3) and every handheld (DSi, PSP) except the original DS also have parenal controls that can block the playing of games based on the game's rating.
The 360 and PS3 also allow parents to block communication such as voice chat on child accounts, and the Wii has a friends code system where you have to exchange friends codes to be able to communicate.
Re: any limit = not unlimited
in NYC, they're priced to where you benefit if you ride 2x a day every day. but if you used it less than that, you lose out.
This is not just about used games!
Many EA games use these codes to lock features out of the game period. So if you have a wife, girlfriend, brother, sister, cousin, roommate or friend who plays your game on your console, they can't play the full game because some features are locked into the EA Account that used the code.
So, even someone buying new is screwed if they aren't the only gamer in the house.
Why i watch LOST when it airs
i can only speak for myself, but i watch LOST live when it airs because i have many friends on IRC, IM and forums who watch it live too, and we all talk about the episode as it happens, and we don't have to worry about things like pressing play at the same time or anything like that.
(untitled comment)
from what i read about this on CNET, they're giving small (and self) publishers the option to *add* DRM as previously, anyone who used their Digital Text Platform (DTP) didn't have any DRM on their ebooks at all. All of the "Big" Publishers use a totally different publishing platform that has a different (better?) DRM available for them to use.
Re: an no money was made BUT free advertisng
one of these days i need to watch the movie, i love the reaction clips!
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you're right, it's terribly easy to pirate the harry potter books, all it takes is a quick google search for tons of hits. and that's the only option for people who want the digital version.
(untitled comment)
"Or let me put it this way. My car is built to ALLOW it to go 130mph. There some situations where I could do this at no danger to others. But if I do in a public place, can you guess who wouldn't be driving again for quite some time?"
the terms of service are fairly broad, and as many people have pointed out, there are many other games with glitches that were abused and people weren't banned. it's more like the speed limit on a set of roads was 'not too fast' and people who have been driving at their normal speed on the new road got a suspension, then someone updates their twitter to say that on that particular road, "not too fast" has a lower limit that other roads.
(untitled comment)
This is hilarious.
The reason Microsoft is banning people is because Activision and Infinity Ward are cheap.
Many of you may not know this, but Microsoft charges publishers for certifying game updates, and also charges them for publishing them (iirc, the first is free) onto Xbox Live.
Activision doesn't want to pay out more money when they already have a planned update coming. They just want to roll up the fix for this into their big update.
So the compromise is Microsoft bans the small about of people using this glitch so Activision saves a few bucks, which is pretty despicable considering the MILLIONS of dollars they made selling the game.
It's all about the almighty dollar, as is extremely evident in the handling of the PC port.
Re: Net Neutrality
that's the rub eh. they want to sell the hot new google phone, but fail to realize why people want to buy it.