Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

wired.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 64 posts

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#11

Post by benihana »

seivan wrote: post #4

I am glad it's about a computer scientist (hacker) that performed an action that wasn't subjective and not some 'game designer ux product idea ui designer visual artist ux' snake oil who wants their game idea implemented. Fixing broken game ideas is easy.

Because obviously someone's title declares what he is capable of or likes doing. Because someone with a title that isn't 'hacker' instantly discredits his ability to hack. Obviously. Because people who didn't study CS can't be hackers, obviously. Because someone who does UI or UX can't hack backend things, obviously.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#12

Post by icebraining »

Luc wrote: post #9
fragsworth wrote: post #7

> some people made up long reasons for why such a lock could be in place, I was irked. Someone was wrong on the internet, and it fell to me to set them straight. The lock was in place because one reason: Their developers did not know how to do this in a short amount of time. Their estimate may have been 2-3 months (because they would need to learn how to do it properly), and management decided against the effort. Thi…

> Their developers did not know how to do this in a short amount of time. Their estimate may have been 2-3 months (because they would need to learn how to do it properly) Eh, what? They're not idiots, they know how to change resolution. They just figured it wasn't possible to do a proper job in the time/budget for something low on the priority list, so they didn't do it. Game devs like to get paid for their work, too…

It's not just changing the resolution, it's also fixing all everything that breaks in a game that was developed targeting a single resolution.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#13

Post by lclarkmichalek »

Groxx wrote: post #10
gagege wrote: post #2

There is a long tradition of mods, fixes and enhancements in PC gaming. The PC version often ends up being much better than the console version. The privacy and DRM issues with current consoles are bad, but this article demonstrates my favorite reason to just buy a decent video card for your existing PC, rather than buy a console.

My favorite reason is that games from 10 years ago still run, and as a last resort I can fire up a VM, on a modern computer. My N64 cartridges, meanwhile, stopped working in new machines as soon as the Gamecube came out. And if the console ever dies, they get harder and harder to find.

I got a Windows 8.1 laptop a few days ago, and was delighted to find that a game I first played 13 years ago worked out of the box (though I fear I may need to find install a mod to take advantage of modern screen resolutions). It was even usable, if not without its quirks, on a touch screen! For all the hate that Microsoft gets, their backwards compatibility is absolutely insane.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#14

Post by seivan »

benihana wrote: post #11
seivan wrote: post #4

I am glad it's about a computer scientist (hacker) that performed an action that wasn't subjective and not some 'game designer ux product idea ui designer visual artist ux' snake oil who wants their game idea implemented. Fixing broken game ideas is easy.

Because obviously someone's title declares what he is capable of or likes doing. Because someone with a title that isn't 'hacker' instantly discredits his ability to hack. Obviously. Because people who didn't study CS can't be hackers, obviously. Because someone who does UI or UX can't hack backend things, obviously.

No because hen actually performed something that isn't subjective. The person in question fixed the software. It wasn't "Do this game idea I have". Not sure were you're getting at but I didn't study/finish CS.

I wasn't referring to the title, I was referring to the skillset and action performed. But whatever.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#15

Post by benzor »

benihana wrote: post #11
seivan wrote: post #4

I am glad it's about a computer scientist (hacker) that performed an action that wasn't subjective and not some 'game designer ux product idea ui designer visual artist ux' snake oil who wants their game idea implemented. Fixing broken game ideas is easy.

Because obviously someone's title declares what he is capable of or likes doing. Because someone with a title that isn't 'hacker' instantly discredits his ability to hack. Obviously. Because people who didn't study CS can't be hackers, obviously. Because someone who does UI or UX can't hack backend things, obviously.

Yes, and because we all know that no computer scientist has ever done anything unethical, obviously.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#16

Post by Luc »

icebraining wrote: post #12
Luc wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Their developers did not know how to do this in a short amount of time. Their estimate may have been 2-3 months (because they would need to learn how to do it properly) Eh, what? They're not idiots, they know how to change resolution. They just figured it wasn't possible to do a proper job in the time/budget for something low on the priority list, so they didn't do it. Game devs like to get paid for their work, too…

It's not just changing the resolution, it's also fixing all everything that breaks in a game that was developed targeting a single resolution.

Indeed. Which is why it takes some effort.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#17

Post by Luc »

Groxx wrote: post #10
gagege wrote: post #2

There is a long tradition of mods, fixes and enhancements in PC gaming. The PC version often ends up being much better than the console version. The privacy and DRM issues with current consoles are bad, but this article demonstrates my favorite reason to just buy a decent video card for your existing PC, rather than buy a console.

My favorite reason is that games from 10 years ago still run, and as a last resort I can fire up a VM, on a modern computer. My N64 cartridges, meanwhile, stopped working in new machines as soon as the Gamecube came out. And if the console ever dies, they get harder and harder to find.

Project 64 is pretty good nowadays: http://www.pj64-emu.com/

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#18

Post by Kiro »

Luc wrote: post #16
icebraining wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just changing the resolution, it's also fixing all everything that breaks in a game that was developed targeting a single resolution.

Indeed. Which is why it takes some effort.

So basically you're agreeing with fragsworth.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#19

Post by Kiro »

seivan wrote: post #4

I am glad it's about a computer scientist (hacker) that performed an action that wasn't subjective and not some 'game designer ux product idea ui designer visual artist ux' snake oil who wants their game idea implemented. Fixing broken game ideas is easy.

Eventually these bogus titles will be a thing of the past and the successful tech companies will consist of 100% hackers.

Re: Is Your Game Crap? This Fan Will Fix It for You

#20

Post by seivan »

Kiro wrote: post #19
seivan wrote: post #4

I am glad it's about a computer scientist (hacker) that performed an action that wasn't subjective and not some 'game designer ux product idea ui designer visual artist ux' snake oil who wants their game idea implemented. Fixing broken game ideas is easy.

Eventually these bogus titles will be a thing of the past and the successful tech companies will consist of 100% hackers.

It's not about titles, I edited to clear that out.
Post reply on HN