Capn12

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 12:25 PM) Right, you can install games from the disc too to speed up loading times, but you still can't install the game and then play it. That's what I want...to BUY the physical media, THEN install it, THEN not need the disc again. You need an activation code to prevent pirating and stealing games, but I want that option too. OR why shouldn't I be able to download a game once I have a physical copy and new activation code. I'd like to download Fallout 3 to my system, as I did with Left 4 Dead 2, but I will have to pay for the digital copy of it. Why should I? I've already bought the physical copy. Yeah, in an ideal world, this would be the option I'd be ok with as well. But we're still tethered to having the actual disc, to enjoy a game.

Until every household has the availability of broadband access, it is hard to argue the 'always connected' model. I'm all for it myself, but then again I have ISP choices in my area. It is hard for most of us to imagine not having the choice of ISPs that will provide necessary bandwidth, and quite often a forgotten point.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 12:07 PM) When I need a new blu ray player I buy a PS3. Im not talking about households who are buying $50 dvd players, Im talking about households who have the money to buy DVDs the day they are released because they dont want to wait 40 for Netflix. So, you want your console to be more of an entertainment center that you can do multiple things on. Kind of like watching movies or playing games that other people have, but you don't own? Is it easier to meet up with said person, ask to borrow the movie/game, take it home, watch it, meet back up and give it back...or...access digital media via that entertainment console the instant you decide that you want to see/play it? It seems the latter was a feature that up until recently, was going to be made possible... The fact that some entities have sticks up their asses with respect to who they will allow to publish their media, has no bearing on what is the better option down the road. Because physical media can't go missing/scratched/broken/etc?

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 12:02 PM) Sure. Now, how big is a game? Uncharted 3 was a 44gb download. How long does that take to download? Why wouldn't I want the option? Personally, I enjoy the experience of picking up the game and unboxing it. I'm sure being 30 I'm just an old fogie. I'd love to still have the opportunity to walk around a Blockbuster, too. It isn't age that designates the desire to have physical media, it is personal preference and past procedure. I'm 36, and think it is absolutely silly that we're still having to buy physical media for games/movies/music.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 11:58 AM) Record to 6 track to tape to cd. In each of those cases they were replaced by another item that I could physically buy. I dont buy music from itunes. I still buy cds of albums I really want. I want to know I have the physical media, even if it costs me a few extra dollars. So if both consoles had been released without optical drives, would you have decided against both? It would be pointless for me to sit and argue personal preference, and that is understandable. But there is a difference between ease of access/use, and what someone prefers.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 11:54 AM) lol Well this is the point all along. Its never in the best interest of the customer to limit themselves, unless the cost is so great that the limit makes economic sense. I bet that if they made a no optical drive Xbox itd cost like $50 less. How many people are going to cheap out on $50 if it means that they cant use their system to play blu ray and dvd. That is basically a step back in home media integration. That is all speculation really. If the Xbox1 cost the same as the PS4, but had no optical drive, I'd gladly buy one. Are there really THAT many households that are without means to play DVDs/BRs? I'm pretty sure those are probably also going to be the households that aren't looking to drop $400-500 on a gaming console. Some folks are ok with moving forward with an easier method of media usage, some folks don't want it to change. Regardless, sooner than later, the digital game media will go the way of the DVD with respect to Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, etc.

Its funny, because I'm sure there was a time, not too long ago, when people were saying, "Why would I ever buy a PC without a 3.5" drive in it?" or "I'll just keep this cassette deck in my car, it is way cheaper to buy music that way." Do the old methods still work? Sure, absolutely. Are they the most efficient way? Nope, not anymore. And neither is depending on physical media to be actually present, to play a game. But, that can be chalked up to opinions, and why we're discussing it on a message board, and not in a Sony/Microsoft boardroom.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 11:33 AM) Seriously, why can't we do both? Have each game come with an activation code. If you want to install the game onto your system and return/sell the physical media, you can (for less than retail price, obviously). If you just want to use the game disc itself, you can. I don't see what's so hard about that. See, I agree. Why not have the physical media version of a game, regular price. Also, a digital download version of the game, a bit cheaper, but requires the connectivity of the console, etc. Why can't that system be implemented? Clearly, they have the capabilities. I'd love to not have to keep up with physical media anymore.

So semantics, gotcha.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 11:07 AM) ? I dont see anywhere where it says this was their plan. Nor was it some last second decision. 70% of bought games are retail. That number presumably a lot higher on consoles. It would be one of the worst business decisions ever to get rid of the optical drive now. Those 2 quotes pretty clearly say that they were on the non-optical drive thought for their next consoles, but other concerns arose. I'm not sure if you're arguing semantics, or maybe just didn't see it.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 10:57 AM) No, it wasn't. Digital Based Consoles Check again. Or, if you prefer to see it from a better source, WSJ: No Optical Drives, please.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 10:45 AM) Sony doesn't have the network to phase out physical media. To put thing's in perspective, when's the last time you used the optical drive of your computer? A lot of people are just taking the drive out all together. They're no longer needed. Microsoft intended to drive retail down on new games. No more pre-orders for games. No need to head out to the store to buy them. No need to take them over to a friend's house. Everything would have been in your account. Everything from the games you play, to the music you buy, to the TV and movies you watch would have all been through the Xbox network. People really are stupid and fear change. From what I can recall, the original idea was to leave the optical drives off of the new consoles all together, both Sony and MS supported that idea. But, someone chickened out at the last second, and now the other is having to do a 180 to save face. Rather sad, as always, the uninformed consumer rules the market.

Oh, before anyone else even calls me a MS apologist, let me say I have the PS4 on pre-order, not an XB1. I prefer to choose what to by based on game library though, not he said she said.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jun 20, 2013 -> 09:17 AM) Really stupid move from Microsoft. It's a shame that apparently the majority of gamers seem to be short sighted idiots. "Used games. Derp!" In fairness to those morons, Microsoft couldn't market water in the desert. Now the next generation of consoles won't be much different than this generation. Hardware can only take you so far when you're pushing it to a 55" "Smart TV." Really, Sony and Microsoft are duping everyone by making you buy a console that barely outperforms your old console. "But, but DDR5!" For those few without Internet connections, it would have taken seconds and its called, "tethering." These aren't 'next gen' consoles, they're just Xbox 360.2 and PS3.2 now. I have no idea why people want to rail MS for the connect every 24 hours thing and the games 'in the cloud' components. That IS what makes the console 'next generation'...the fact that physical media was being phased out, playability from anywhere you can log into XBL.... But no, idiots hear 'DRM' and go bats*** crazy, or just jump on the bandwagon. Oh hey, Sony fanboys, you DO remember that Sony was the lynchpin behind rootkits in your music, years ago, right? And by all accounts from what we've heard, the PS4 AND the XB1 were both supposed to go the way of 'cloud/digital media', but something made Sony back down late in the game, or they saw the flak that MS was getting about it. Something happened there in the 11th hour.

Damn..guess it's back to buying both of them, now. I've already gone from having the XBox One preordered, to cancelling that and preordering PS4... the real crime here still, again, is the stupidass console exclusive game crap.

Lol

Send em all down to AAA. Go get Willie Mays Hayes, Rick Vaughn, Eddie Harris, Roger Dorn, Jake Taylor, and Pedro Cerrano... or ANYONE...whoever.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ May 30, 2013 -> 05:04 PM) I enjoy distancing myself from Soxtalk for awhile and then returning and reading through posts by the same members (often year to year) who cannot seem to recognize a White Sox team for what it is. I don't know if immersing yourself in every pitch of every game and then coming on here to discuss it every day removes you objectivity, but it's troubling in some cases. This is not a well constructed ballclub. They will not be winning in the playoffs.

QUOTE (farmteam @ May 23, 2013 -> 12:23 AM) Saw Bush tonight. Gavin Rossdale is quite the showman. And a voice that you can't mistake, either. Even after 20 years or so...jesus, has it been that long?

Yeah, unless you had a room/area to store your fermenting goods at 50-65 degrees, you'd have a bit of funk in a lager yeast.

Saw Soundgarden in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Very odd setlist (I mean, how does SG do a show and NOT play Jesus Christ Pose??), but overall, Chris still has it. Of course, I'm biased, Cornell could sing opera and I'd probably still enjoy it.

I brew at home as well. Both resources that LZ mentioned above are great, especially the John Palmer book. I read parts of it over and over before starting up myself. If you're hesitant to go All Grain from the start, don't be! I made exactly 1 Extract brew before I swapped right to All Grain, far more rewarding IMO. I use Brewers Friend to log all of my recipes that I've made and those that I'm going to make. Watch your temperatures VERY closely, and don't get frustrated whilst waiting on your wort temperature to drop after boil. Pitching the yeast when the wort isn't ready, is definitely not a good idea at all. Also, your first brews you make, don't necessarily have to be bad! The first all grain recipe I did, a Coffee Coconut Oatmeal Stout, just placed 2nd overall in our area's home brew contest. Be creative, you'll never know what may work in a beer, just always remember that anything you add sugar-wise, is going to change the dynamic of the beer overall.

Re: The rebuilding talk and how it removes your ability to play in the post season...it's been 4 years without an appearance for this team, and 1 postseason win in 7 years. So it isn't like going without any opportunity to play in the postseason, is something totally new.

Well, we were overdue for a Reed BS. He doesn't get ahead of anyone, and that won't work.

Here comes the 5 guys to get 12 outs, system.