It is difficult enough already to engage Gabriel in a discussion of security or Digital Rights Management, and spelling Microsoft M-dollar sign is probably the best way I can think of to get your mail deleted. He might even have a rule that does it now, I haven't asked. When Ross Anderson penned his now famous Palladium FAQ, which reads somewhere between a toaster manual and grim speculative fiction, you will note that he never deploys the dollar sign, because he would like to be taken seriously. It's often assumed that you can assume a computing enthusiast hates Microsoft, and I think that's why people pepper mails to us with it - I'd imagine people just automatically think we'd agree with the sentiment. It simply isn't true. We do love virtue and detest bullshit. But I think Microsoft has had - thus far - a Net Positive Effect.
It's rare that you see one of our number - geeks and gamers, all - say anything positive about Microsoft, because MS is the veritable embodiment of The Man. They are like the Avatar of The Man here on Earth. And you can't throw in your lot with him if you want to maintain your underground credentials. Well, if we ever had those, here they go. When I say that I think Microsoft has had a Net Positive Effect, I'm not just trying to flaunt my iconoclasm. My experience with x86 personal computers has gotten more sensible with every Microsoft operating system I've installed. Admittedly, I never installed ME. But I didn't need to. 98 was fine until it was time to graduate to 2k, and despite the computing apocalypse that Windows XP's Product Activation features were supposed to ignite, I've never had the first problem with it, and it's not like I don't upgrade shit. I like using their programs. I like going into a store and having so Goddamn many things available for my operating system that I can't decide and just go home.
But I don't like Palladium.
As I see it, any talk about personal "security" just sweetens the pill, and the real focus of the product is an elaborate, powerful Digital Rights Management package that goes farther than anything that previously possible. I like that currently, even Microsoft's own operating system is an unregulated hinterland that is virtually beyond policing. Terabytes of contraband have flitted this way and that in the time it took you to read this. The whole thing has a frontier feeling about it, if you'll excuse the sentimentality. I don't believe, as it says in that FAQ, that this technology is going to be leveraged against free speech to authorize only a narrow band of expression. That is a paranoid fantasy. But I do think it's clear that the way we use our computers totally pisses off gigantic, wealthy companies of all stripes, and it was only a matter of time until they tried to do something about it.
(CW)TB out.
tattooed around his gun wounds
Thanks to my friends Andrew and Briggs I finally got my Neo-Geo Hyper 64 working. Well that isn't entirely true. I didn't get "mine" working because as it turns out the board I purchased off of EBay was designed to play racing games. This was no good to me since all I wanted to do was play fighting games. Briggs hooked me up with the correct board though as well as Samurai Spirits II: Warriors Rage, which is a 3D Samurai Showdown game. Being as I have an undying love for all things SNK I am able to overlook some of the games shortcomings and I really enjoy playing it. After spending some time with it though, it's easy to see why the Hyper 64 failed. Warriors Rage is nice but it came out in 1998 which means it was up against Tekken 3 and Virtua Fighter 4. From graphics to gameplay Warriors Rage can't go toe to toe with either of those titles. It's unfortunate that SNK was in a position were they could not afford to keep supporting the failing system. I am sure that given enough time and money they would have been able to deliver a 3D fighting experience on par with anything Namco or Sega was offering. However their initial attempts were so poorly received that they had no choice but to drop the idea entirely. If nothing else the handful of 3D games released for the system serve as proof of concept. Perhaps the new SNK will see the opportunity that next generation hardware offers, to breathe new life into some of their classic properties.
The poster is still a hot topic in my inbox.
Important poster information:
- The poster measures 24" by 17"
- The price is $15.00
- We will be available all day every day during the con to sign posters.
-If we have posters left over after the San Diego Comic-Con we will take them to the Necrowombicon.
-We plan to print additional copies of this poster at some point to have available via the website. However these posters will not be signed.
-Gabe out
We have Playdium officially booked for the 16th price of admission is $25 for a 4 hour playing card this offer gets us gaming anywhere between 6pm and 1am. so, it lasts for 4 hours once you get it. All you have to say is: "I'm with the Necrowombicon" or "I'm with the group that's staying at the Holiday Inn" we have about 150 cards set aside, so if any of you locals want to bring your friends, that's okay too... i'd appreciate it if you got them to register first, but it's not a problem apparently.
They have the Lounge in the place set aside for us, and apparently we get some sort of deal on the food and drinks, but nothing I could really post about. they're adding a bowling alley, and a few new games by the time we get there, so it should be all good. They're really looking forward to us being there, and they're also having a lot of trouble pronouncing "Necrowombicon"
- Like the other PA shirts on Gameskins, they will be $18 and come in every size(S-3XL)
- After the con they will be available for sale on the Gameskins website.
- I eat a lot of Altoids, so yes, my spit is curiously strong and delicious.
(CW)TB
