I don't see how this is a big deal. Just create an object that stores the buffer calls the check every time you need access or process the buffer. From then on just use the object in your main program and voila, no more annoying checks. There's a lot of annoying little subtleties like this in OpenGL as well. They can be easily taken care of with correctly engineered code.

Citation needed.

Because DirectX was a piece of shit at the time. DirectX today is a very different API.

To take advantage of the new capabilities of latest video cards...is this something you don't want??

I'm not sure if all 360's have this, but mine did come with a sticker on the front of the console (I think on the disc tray front) saying something to the effect of "Do not move console while in use."

I still think it's kind of silly though. Mainly because the cost adding a pad that prevents the disc from getting scratched is pretty much negligible compared to the cost of the console.

Wrong.

Sony has had over 3 years to "trounce" them. This hasn't happened yet. Why would the stronger hardware aspect of the PS3 all of the sudden start attracting gamers away from the 360?

It's not that simple. Obesity is only one piece of the puzzle in terms of why the US health care system sucks so much. Insurance premiums and drug costs have exploded at a much higher rate than obesity.

I have played all the Quakes, Unreals, and Half-Lifes, including CS semi-professionally. Guess what? I have fun playing Halo as well. Just because a superior control scheme exists for a game, doesn't mean that people can't enjoy the game on it's own merits.

You provide nothing but anecdotal experience in your post. You couldn't possibly know how many cops are "corrupt" (especially since corruption can be a subjective thing) versus how many are honest. Just because you've interacted with cops more than the average person doesn't mean you can make such a sweeping statement authoritatively. The number of hits on google about any subject does not always reflect the frequency of occurrence of any particular corrupt action.

I totally agree with you that the US anti drug effort is a huge failure, but your post is borderline the-moon-landing-never-happened conspiracy theory.

They only developed the best selling game on XBox and the best selling game on the 360. I'm so sorry for showing my favoritism. *rolls eyes*

You know I try so hard to be respectful in my slashdot comments, but your ignorant, wrong, and illogical post has just put me in flamebait mode.

First of all, you spelled Sid Meier's name incorrectly.

Second of all, Sid Meier has nothing to do with SimCity. You are speaking of Will Wright.

Thirdly, Bungie is now one of the biggest game companies in the world. You honestly think they would just stick with the Mac, because what...they like Macs? Give me a fucking break. Put yourself in their position: "Oh should we piddle along and release great, underrated games, until we die, or should we accept the huge contract that will eventually help us grow into one of the biggest gaming companies in the world?"

Yeah, and look how great Ambrosia is doing compared to Bungie. Oh but wait, Ambrosia released EV Nova for PC!!! OMG what a bunch of sell outs!!!

Lastly, I love your statement of "Well Blizzard, I think you just died." I hope I make a company that is as dead as Blizzard some day (in your method of evaluating game companies).

How the hell do you know that Blizzard has changed from the merger? Can we not make assumptions about Blizzard until they actually release a new game, please?

You mean like bnetd? Yeah I'm sure a kid running a server out of his mom's basement will out-compete a billion dollar company. Not to mention Blizzard has the legal power to shut down anything remotely competitive in a heartbeat.

Horrable grammer.

Wives tend to have that effect.

Hey, if it's consensual sex between the tentacles and the tentaclee, then what's the problem?

No. This is slashdot.