Comment Re:Elite Hackers. (Score 1) 306
Or EULA.txt....
Fox News Brings Video Game Violence Debate To a New Low 421
Fox News took another shot at the video game violence debate earlier this week when they asked whether Bulletstorm, an upcoming M-rated shooter from Epic Games, is the worst game in the world. The article links violent games with an increase in rapes, and suggests there should be greater penalties for selling to minors. Gaming website Rock, Paper, Shotgun breaks down the problems with the article's sensationalist claims and highlights the disingenuous cherry-picking of quotes.
"Scott Steinberg, CEO of TechSavvy Global, and all-round industry guru, got in touch with me to show me the answers he submitted to Fox when they approached him for comment. The full answers are reproduced below, because what results is a fantastic interview on the subject of adult game content and regulation. Fox chose to use none of Steinberg’s comments in their final piece, opting instead for the more sensational claims of those with no expertise in the subject (neither of whom have found time to reply to our emails). But seeing these answers also provides further insight into how the mainstream media coverage of gaming stories works. Far from being a reporter ignorant of the subject and twisted by naive contributors, Fox correspondent John Brandon was equipped with a wealth of factual information and informed opinion before composing his frantic article."
Spinach Could Be Used For Hydrogen Fuel 105
An anonymous reader writes "If Popeye had made alternative fuels, he'd have probably come up with something like this. Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a system that converts solar energy directly into hydrogen using the common spinach plant."
Bombay High Court Rules Astrology To Be a Science 478
neosaurus writes "In India, the Bombay High Court recently ruled astrology to be 'a time tested science more than 4000 years old.' Not only does this stretch the definition of science, it also reaffirms people's faith in pseudosciences at a broader level." At least we can know for certain the people trying to get creationism taught as science in our schools have equally wacky friends around the globe.
Microsoft Vehemently Denies Google's "Bing Sting" 596
eldavojohn writes "In a blog post titled 'Setting the Record Straight,' Microsoft's senior vice president of online services, Yusuf Mehdi, addressed Google's 'Bing Sting' operation saying, 'We do not copy results from any of our competitors. Period. Full stop. We have some of the best minds in the world at work on search quality and relevance, and for a competitor to accuse any one of these people of such activity is just insulting.' Mehdi went on to claim that Google engaged in 'click fraud' in order to rig up their alleged 'experiment.' Mehdi added, 'That's right, the same type of attack employed by spammers on the web to trick consumers and produce bogus search results. What does all this cloak and dagger click fraud prove? Nothing anyone in the industry doesn't already know.' The struggle for Bing to usurp Google as number one in search continues."
Court Rules Dungeons and Dragons Threatens Prison Security 353
KermodeBear writes "Dungeons and Dragons — originally Satan's Game — has now been found to encourage gang-like behavior. In a finding by a three judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, D&D 'can mimic the organization of gangs and lead to the actual development thereof.' From the ruling: 'during D&D games, one player is denoted the "Dungeon Master." 'The Dungeon Master is tasked with giving directions to other players, which Muraski testified mimics the organization of a gang.'"
Duke Nukem Forever Release Date Revealed 288
stupid_is writes with news that Duke Nukem Forever has now gotten a firm US release date: May 3rd. It will release worldwide three days later. The game was resurrected last fall by Gearbox Software and 2K Games after 3D Realms' 12-year attempt at development came to an end in 2009 when the company closed its doors.
4chan Has Been DDOSed 710
An anonymous reader writes "According to the 4chan status page all of the 4chan boards have been DDOSed and are down."
Comment Re:"awesomely bad 80s graphics" (Score 1) 384
Ditto, WTF is the submitter smoking?
Back then it was cutting edge, and still today it looks beautiful in it's own kind of retro way
Back then it was cutting edge, and still today it looks beautiful in it's own kind of retro way
Why Tablets Haven't Taken Off In Business 449
An anonymous reader writes "On PC World's blog, Keir Thomas suggests reasons why tablets have never taken off in business, and explains how Apple's iPad was able to waltz in and steal the entire market. It's all about giving users freedom to figure out how useful tablets can be, he says, rather than forcing them into narrow usage scenarios: 'There's a lot to be said for having faith in users to make best use of their computer, without pushing and pulling them in ways you think are best for them.'"
Microsoft Patents Foot Computing 107
theodp writes "Microsoft Research has made it possible for a mother to surf the web while nursing her newborn, thanks to its newly-patented 'foot-based user interface' (FUI?). 'In addition to causing health problems,' explains Microsoft in the patent, 'the traditional keyboard and mouse interface can be simply inconvenient in certain situations as well. In one instance, a mother with a baby in her arms is unable to easily perform simple tasks, such as checking email, on a computer.' Users of the 'Foot-Based Interface for Interacting With a Computer,' however, will be able to move their feet and step on the floor a la DDR to execute various commands, such as deleting email or scrolling down the screen. Due to the usual foot-dragging on the part of the USPTO, the patent — filed for in 2006 — was essentially obsolete by the time it was issued on Tuesday, a week after Microsoft's Kinect launch."
Comment Gangs of NY (Score 1) 2058
But to just stand there and watch it burn? That should be criminal, what if people died? I think the firefighters should go to jail. What has his world come to when the people sworn to serve and protect decide not to? Sounds like anarchy.
My thoughts exactly.
Kinda reminds me of that scene of the fire in gangs of NY. All that's missing is the firefighters sacking the neighbor's house.
My thoughts exactly.
Kinda reminds me of that scene of the fire in gangs of NY. All that's missing is the firefighters sacking the neighbor's house.
Comment Re:In ten years (Score 1) 370
And we'll have fusion power...
Comment Idle (Score 1) 772
75k / 12 = 6250 $ per month, I guess that's the figure they're pointing at. Sure, the story title says 75k flat, but the summary clearly says 75k as an annual sum.
As for the picture of the coins with smileys, as i get it, suggests money + happiness, a good match for the story title. I can't see what is wrong with that.
A case of tabloid-like effectism at most, but which media outlet, big or small, isn't guilty of that these days?
Besides, the story is under the idle category. IMHO, it shouldn't be taken that seriously.
As for the picture of the coins with smileys, as i get it, suggests money + happiness, a good match for the story title. I can't see what is wrong with that.
A case of tabloid-like effectism at most, but which media outlet, big or small, isn't guilty of that these days?
Besides, the story is under the idle category. IMHO, it shouldn't be taken that seriously.
Just Where Is The Lincoln Memorial, Anyhow? 650
John3 writes "Searching Google Maps for the Lincoln Memorial is returning the location of the FDR Memorial instead. Conservative bloggers smell a conspiracy since Glenn Beck is holding his 'Restoring Honor' gathering at the Lincoln Memorial tomorrow (August 28). Notes for the map listing on Google state 'This place has unverified edits'; so, did someone claim the listing and edit the location?"
