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Time is Gold

PC Gaming: Rumors of its Death Haven't Been Exaggerated

 03/10/2008 | 11:31 AM

By Admin

dell_xps_renegade.jpgDon't worry, I swear I don't have a flaming digital arrow nocked and aimed at PC gaming's hypersensitive heart. Insert stuff about me loving my PC and PC games (yada yada) here. It's just that this morning, I was reading an interview with Unreal creator Tim Sweeney (the one-time "alternative" John Carmack) over at TG Daily and it got me thinking about how increasingly backwards the traditional PC games industry looks. Backwards, because at least in terms of the way it's covered by the press and marketed by its purveyors, it's weirdly front-loaded.

Front-loaded, because...

...the majority of PC games media coverage is enthusiast-oriented, e.g. male and niche focused, despite more PC gamers being statistically casual and female. In the old days when almost no one had a PC, it made sense -- PCs along with PC gamers were certainly niche. But anymore, finding representative press coverage of PC gaming is like looking for general entertainment news, e.g. Entertainment Weekly or People when all you can find on the shelf are copies of Cinefex.

...that coverage almost universally presents new games in a way that trumpets the futurist aspects -- still largely visually-focused -- that only a fraction of the actual PC gaming populace will ever functionally experience on their median-grade PC.

Consider Sweeney's response to the cost of "stunningly expensive gaming rigs":

There are many overpriced computers out there. It's like sports cars. They are everywhere, everybody writes about them, but there are only a few who can afford them. There isn't a great amount of people that will spend large amounts of money on that. In the case of PCs, they mostly don't deliver that amount of performance that you would expect to justify that cost. You pay twice as much money for 30% more performance... That is just not right.

And here, as they say, lies the rub. Sweeney's right, but he's also missing a crucial point.

He's right in that the cost of the PC hardware necessary to run a game like Crysis smoothly at the level of detail with which it's been shamelessly marketed really is preposterous. To this day, a tiny fraction of the total PC gaming populace has played Crysis at anywhere near detail settings worthy of the hype that game engendered for over a year courtesy developer Crytek, publisher Electronic Arts, and just about every game media site wiling to drool in tandem. Scan any related games forum right now, and you'll see that most people still haven't experienced the Crysis we saw in preview videos and montages slathered everywhere leading up to its release, and unless that majority revisits it in a year or two with new hardware eyes, they probably never will. In summary, the disconnect between median gamers and cost-to-do-business at a level that fulfills the marketing hype is horribly, deleteriously broken.

The critical point Sweeney misses, in my opinion, lies with the way game developers approach and/or intellectually subsidize game-oriented PC hardware cycles. Let's talk tough truths here. First-tier game developers like Sweeney tend to treat game design like it's the world's tallest mountain and hey-get-out-of-my-way, they just have to climb the thing...until the next tallest mountain comes along, at which point they do it all over again. That's all well and good in an experimental physics lab, or somewhere like NASA, but in the consumer market, if your end product only looks like you intended it to on a handful of PCs at time of release, what have you really accomplished? You may have designed the world's most efficient light-rendering path or plugged it into a game that looks better than a Pixar movie rendering in realtime, but it's like the tree in the forest: if virtually no one can play it at its hyped and marketed level -- and note the marketing aspect is key here -- did it even really come out?

Sweeney adds that "Intel’s integrated graphics just don't work...I don't think they will ever work." Well sure, they don't work if you're Tim Sweeney and always hell-bent on making games like Unreal that turn GPUs into whimpering puddles of molten silicon. Those sorts of games are always fun to read about in a preview or to watch in a trailer, but when it's time for the rubber to meet the road, most people don't have the tire tread to even register.

You look at consoles, by comparison, and they lock in a certain level of hardware for a sustained period. Consoles force developers to be innovative with the tools they have, to compete on a more or less level playing field with their peers. Consoles instantly equalize gamers -- no more nerdy hardware envy. And guess what: consoles are pretty much PCs in terms of their internal components. We just call them consoles as a point of reference. They're really just "locked-in" computers, and judging by international sales figures, all that adds up to "way more appealing" to the average generalist gamer.

Developers need to stop looking at the PC as an infinitely scalable platform, and publishers need to to stop selling us games we can't play...at least not the way they're marketed.

Final note: To anyone who thinks I'm just making an argument for dumber games in terms of embracing the growing casual PC games element, I'd say firstly that -- sorry to break it to you -- "mass appeal" is a factor in any growth industry, and second, that you need to also make absolutely certain that you're not mistaking complexity (of whatever sort) for intelligence and depth. Some of the smartest, most artistic, most enjoyable games I played in 2007 were in fact casual indies from studios with shoestring budgets.

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iPhone to Support Corporate E-Mail Soon

 03/04/2008 | 10:31 AM

By Admin

Apple is likely to introduce better support for corporate email solutions such as Lotus Notes and Exchange next week, an analyst said Thursday.

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu made the prediction in his latest note to clients Thursday, in which he once again marked Apple's a stock to buy with a US$175 price target.

"Even before the iPhone was launched, our concern was its mediocre corporate email support even though it had strong consumer email capability (Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, .Mac, AOL mail). Our concern stemmed partially from Exchange's lukewarm support of Macs (understandably so as Microsoft needs to defend its Windows franchise)," the analyst notes.

The analyst cites his own industry and developer sources, who suggest that after "months of beta testing" this weakness will be addressed with improvements in iPhone's ability to work with Exchange server and IBM's Lotus Notes.

"What isn't as clear to us is how Apple will accomplish this, whether this is from internal development (most likely), third-parties including MSFT (next likely) with its ActiveSync technology, or RIM Blackberry Connect (possible but less likely), or a combination of two or more."

The analyst also predicts Apple will also deliver improved security, better support of Virtual Private Networks, and enterprise applications such as Customer Relationship Management systems.

"We still have high conviction that Apple will ship ten million iPhones by the end of 2008. To a degree, what gives us confidence is the large number of hacked phones signaling strong intrinsic demand," Wu wrote.

The analyst concluded that Apple's remains a strong stock, noting: "While near-term trends look difficult with a looming recession and a slow-down in consumer spending, we continue to believe Apple is well-positioned to weather the storm better than most with its strong fundamentals."

   

It's Windows Vista! Only Cheaper!

   
 

 03/04/2008 | 10:31 AM

By Admin

 

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Okay, now this is unexpected: Microsoft is slashing the price of some retail versions of Windows Vista, effective when the SP1 version rolls out later this year. Vista Ultimate's full version will go to $319 fro $399 (an upgrade is now $$219, down from $259); Home Premium's upgrade is now $129, down from $159. The Microsoft site has an interview with an exec who talks about the news.

Who will benefit from this development? Basically, folks with Windows XP machines who have chosen not to upgrade to Vista until now because they found it pricey. But it's not as easy as that: Most of those people probably have PCs they bought in 2006 or before, and while some of those aging machines will run Vista well, many won't. (If you bought a Windows XP computer in 2007, I have a hunch you did so specifically to avoid Windows Vista, and therefore today's news means little or nothing to you.)

I certainly hear some grumbling about the cost of Vista--especially Ultimate, which, even at its new price, is pretty expensive compared to Apple's $129 Max OS X 10.5 "Leopard." But I'm curious whether there are really that many people out there who have been itching to buy a Vista upgrade--and have a PC potent enough to run it well--but haven't done so yet.

One also wonders what's motivating Microsoft to cut prices. The company says that research showed that a cheaper Vista would appeal to more computer users beyond early adopters and geeks. Logical enough. But did it misjudge the public's willingness to fork over $300 for a piece of software when it initially priced Vista? And is the price drop a sign of panic, or a confident statement that it thinks Vista has mass appeal?

Today's news doesn't affect the price of new Windows Vista computers. And I have a sneaking suspicion that for every Microsoft customer who's psyched by the prospect of a lower-cost Vista, there are several who'd be far more thrilled if the company undid its announced plans to discontinue Windows XP on June 30th. (I've rarely if ever run into anyone who's told me that he or she thinks Windows Vista is a major argument for buying a new computer--but a lot of folks have worriedly asked me if it's still possible to buy an XP box.)

IPVG to buy into mobile content provider

03/04/2008 | 11:16 PM
By Admin 
 
IPVG CORP., a publicly listed information and communications technology (ICT) firm, is set to acquire majority ownership of a local mobile technology provider and content developer.

The Gonzalez-led company told the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Tuesday that it entered into a stock purchase agreement with the shareholders of MEGAMobile, Inc.

Under the agreement, IPVG agreed to acquire 70% of the outstanding capital stock of MEGAMobile for P6.4 million to be paid through a combination of cash and advances extended by IPVG to MEGAMobile.

IPVG will purchase 21,000 MEGAMobile shares at a purchase price equivalent to its par value of P100 per share. IPVG will also assume P6.2 million worth of MEGAMobile’s liabilities, which IPVG will pay in advance.

Aside from the total purchase cost, IPVG said it intends to augment its investment by infusing additional capital to strengthen MEGAMobile’s content pipeline, marketing programs and overall infrastructure. The firm did not say how much it will infuse into MEGAMobile.

IPVG Chief Executive Officer Enrique Y. Gonzalez said the company’s investment highlights his firm’s entry into the mobile content and value-added services (VAS) sector.

"This is an extremely exciting space given the Philippines’ 55 million [mobile phone] subscriber base and high demand for mobile content. MEGAMobile gives IPVG an existing platform with strong developmental capabilities," he said in a statement.

"This coupled with IPVG’s infrastructure, communities and funding will make us a formidable player in this space. Expect a lot of exciting products as a result of this partnership," he added.

The acquisition is expected to enable IPVG’s subsidiaries from the communications, outsourcing and online gaming industries to reach a larger customer base and strategic distribution network.

The acquisition is still subject to legal and financial due diligence and the approval of IPVG’s board of directors.

MEGAMobile is IPVG’s fifth non-organic investment in a year. The company earlier acquired contact centers Globalstride Holdings, Inc. and Interactive Teleservices Corporation; a Singapore-based data center IP-Converge Pte. Ltd.; and US-based Internet security provider Prolexic Technologies, Inc.

It had also submitted an offer for PeopleSupport, but the deal fell through after the US-based business process outsourcing firm felt that IPVG’s offer price was too low.

From its corporate headquarters in the Philippines, IPVG has a presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Panama, United Kingdom and the US. — MGSR,BusinessWorld
 

Web site 'Wikileaks' shuttered over post

03/04/2008 | 08:31 AM
 By Admin
SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge has set off a free speech tempest after shutting down a US Web site for posting internal documents accusing a Cayman Islands' bank branch of money laundering and tax evasion schemes.

The Bank Julius Baer & Co. said in papers filed in US District Court in San Francisco that a disgruntled executive fired for "misconduct" stole the documents and illegally posted them on http://wikileaks.org. The bank also said a number of the documents have been altered, but it didn't provide details.

The site claims to have posted 1.2 million leaked government and corporate documents that it says expose unethical behavior, including a 2003 operation manual for the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The bank, based in Zurich, sued Wikileaks and its San Mateo hosting company Dynadot on Feb. 6, alleging the Web site had posted stolen and confidential financial data.

On Thursday, Dynadot agreed to shut down the site and bar Wikileaks from transferring the domain name to another host. US District Court Judge Jeffrey White issued a formal ruling the next day. Dynadot officials didn't return telephone calls Tuesday.

"This is akin to seizing all the copies of the New York Times, locking the doors and ordering the landlords not to let anyone back in the building," said Julie Turner, a Palo Alto Internet attorney who briefly represented Wikileaks, but not during last week's hearing in front of White. Wikileaks was not represented at that hearing.

Wikileaks said in a statement that shutting down the entire Web site — instead of narrowly ordering the removal of the disputed materials — amounts to unconstitutional "prior restraint" by the government of an entire publishing organization.
Web site 'Wikileaks' shuttered over post

Wikileaks vowed to continue publishing the bank's documents on its other Web sites hosted by companies outside the United States. Wikileaks' Web site says it was launched by Chinese dissidents, journalists and others, but it's unclear where the organization is based.

"The order is clearly unconstitutional and exceeds its jurisdiction," Wikileaks spokesman Julian Assange said in the e-mail statement issued from Paris on Monday. "Wikileaks will keep on publishing. In fact, given the level of suppression involved in this case, Wikileaks will step up publication of documents pertaining to illegal or unethical banking practices."

David Ardia, an Internet speech expert at Harvard Law School, said a court has never before ordered an entire Web site shut down over a document dispute. He said it struck a nerve.

"This is a prior restraint in the most extreme fashion," Ardia said. "This is a judge who doesn't have a good understanding of the Internet."

The judge has scheduled more arguments on the issue for Feb. 29. - AP

Microsoft Adds to SharePoint Collaboration Capabilities

03/04/2008 | 11:16 PM

By Admin

While Microsoft's Internet search strategy involves courting Yahoo, its behind-the-firewall search efforts this week center on the company's SharePoint collaboration platform.

Microsoft will unveil two search products based on SharePoint, including a free product, at its Office SharePoint Conference 2008 event in Seattle on Monday. The company also is taking the next steps with its hosted SharePoint and Exchange services and will announce plans for linking SharePoint with the company's Silverlight display technology.

A lot of attention has been given to Microsoft's proposed US$44.6 million buyout of Internet search company Yahoo. But the unveiling of SharePoint search services this week have nothing to do with Yahoo, said Kirk Koenigsbauer, general manager of the Microsoft Office business platform team. Instead, the two products being introduced, Microsoft Search Server 2008 and Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express, are for internal enterprise usage and built on the SharePoint code base.

"They're used for what's called enterprise search, which is search inside the firewall," Koenigsbauer said. Users could, for example, search for an employee claim form, a Word document, a report, or a map of a building on the corporate campus. "A single Search Server can crawl up to 50 million documents in what we call the index," he said.

Search Server 2008 Express is a free product for searching one server. Search Server scales to as many servers as desired, Koenigsbauer said. The predecessor to these products was Microsoft SharePoint Server for Search. The new versions add capabilities, such as a federation feature, which reaches out to different services and pulls them into a new set of results.

The predecessor to these products was Microsoft SharePoint Server for Search. The new versions add capabilities, such as a federation feature, which reaches out to different services and pulls them into a new set of results.

In the hosted space, the company is announcing a broad-based beta of Microsoft SharePoint Online. A previous beta was limited to users with at least 5,000 seats. "Now, enterprises and [mid-size] businesses can subscribe to SharePoint in a subscription business model and take advantage of the choice we're now providing customers," in the ability to access and use the technology, said Eron Kelly, director of product management for business online services at Microsoft. "We believe that by 2010, at least 25 percent of our Office users will be using some kind of [online] service provided by Microsoft," he noted.

The company also is offering a broad-based beta version of its Exchange Online hosted product.

General availability of both the Exchange and SharePoint hosted services is planned for the second half of 2008. The new online services will let users access services like e-mail, calendaring, and Web conferencing at predictable subscription prices. As with most SaaS (software-as-a-service) offerings, users also can get up and running quickly. "You can go from zero to SharePoint in 60 seconds," Kelly noted.

While there is limited customization capability in Microsoft's current hosted platform, plans call for expanding this in the future, he said. Currently, customers can use templates but cannot do custom-coding.

At the conference, Microsoft also will announce Silverlight Blueprint for SharePoint. Silverlight is Microsoft's browser plug-in display technology for rich Internet applications. The blueprint includes sample applications combining Silverlight and SharePoint, detailed guidance and best practices, and rich data visualizations and interactivity.