What, exactly, makes this random guy's interpretation of the Bible more trustworthy than the hundreds or thousands that have come before him and failed to come true?

I mean I'm not exaggerating when I say that people have been predicting this **** for the past two thousand years. They literally have, and they all do exactly what this guy is doing, and they were all wrong. Eventually it gets to the point that the new guy doing the same thing and saying the same things is so likely to be wrong that it's not even worth giving him the mental energy necessary to actually figure out why.

GabuEx

The nice part about predicting the future is that you don't have to worry until the predicted date about whether you are right or wrong, and even then it's easy to go ahead and say, "Oops, minor miscalculation, there."

It would've been nice if the authors of the Bible had included a glossary, right?

Boz

You mean like LittleBigPlanet, Braid, Portal, da Blob and Spore?

Original ideas are out there (new IPs or novel concepts) but there is an overwhelming volume of sequels that gives the illusion that they do not exist. The Top 10 Most Popular titles (on the bottom of GS Home Page) on any given day have 8/10 sequels, most of which are derivative FPS, MMOs, or platformers; but you do get the occasional new idea.

You just have to look hard, and usually in the Indie section or on Flash game sites.

Boz

*Edit* Also, what Planeforger said.

I'll just throw this out there; it's kind of on the edge of what you're looking for, but wanted to make you aware of the option:

Get a dedicated receiver and speaker system. This is going to be outside your budget, but the improvement in quality is worthwhile.

Your dedicated audio card will have an optical digital output. Use an optical cable and run it to a 5.1 (or better) receiver with a set of speakers. A worthwhile entry-level set would be something like the Yamaha RX-V367 paired with the Infinity TSS-500 Home Theater Speaker System ($170 with code). A home-theater in a box like the entry-level Panasonic SC-PT480 would also work, albeit at reduced quality. The ONKYO HT-S3300 would give you significantly more mileage but hey, I'm working within your budget.

It will take more work - meaning research and tinkering - to get it set up and your PC outputting the correct signal for the receiver. Personally I would go with the Yamaha receiver and Infinity speaker setup; I've used prior iterations of those models, and they're excellent for the price.

Dedicated receiver pros: Better sound quality, future connectivity options Dedicated receiver cons: Price, cable management, technical knowledge

Otherwise I wouldn't bother and I'd go the computer speaker route. Even then I'd prefer a high-quality 2.1 setup like the Cambridge Soundworks Microworks II setup to a lower-quality 5.1 setup.

Good luck!

Boz

12:54:49

When I walk into a big-box store and look at their hdtv's I always think why can't mine look like that. Do you do the same. Those tv's look so clear.

Easports48

1. An HD Source (Blu-ray, HD Cable signal, Over the air digital signal
2. Proper Wiring (HDMI, DVI, Component)
3. An HD Output (Television, PC Monitor, etc.)

It is possible - but highly unlikely - that you also have the wrong aspect ratio set up on your monitor/television. Check that you are receiving an HD signal from your cable provider (check your package or call), blu-ray player, or antenna (over the air). Make sure you are using an HDMI cable (preferably) or other HD-capable video cable from your signal to the television. Then make sure your television is actually capable of HD (720p, 1080i, or higher).

If after doing all that you are still having issues, come back and ask; happy to help!

Boz

The primary graphical problem is not really that the Wii cannot do HD, but that its ability to produce high resolution textures, effects, and other advanced graphical output is limited by its processing capabilities. Even at 480p (commonly known as EDTV) Wii graphics are pretty clunky with a lot of "stepping" on model edges and graphical anomalies, even in the visually-impressive titles like Metroid and Conduit. It simply cannot handle heavy anti-aliasing. Common XBox360 and PS3 games look far superior visually to Wii titles at standard definition output due to higher polygon counts, increase texture resolution, the ability to render more "clutter," etc.

I'm not sure what's going on next-generation, but every console this generation has had its own issues that caused gamers to split for one or another, be it cost, graphical power, DVD/HD DVD/Blu-ray support, third-party titles, or whatever. I would certainly not go so far as to say there is or is not a clear winner.

To be sure, though, Nintendo would be foolish to gamble on another machine with prior generation graphics for its next console.

Happy gaming,

Boz

In my experience SLI is worth it only if you plan to purchase two high-end cards at the same time. Rarely with single-cards is it worthwhile to upgrade at a later date because, by then, a superior card has been released that makes the SLI setup obsolete. It's a nice motherboard regardless; I'm only speaking to buying it for SLI, specifically.

Also review the power draw of all those components; you may be approaching the limits of that 600W power supply, and you definitely want some head room.

Good luck,

Boz

Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.IronBass

1. Servers need to be available
2. The provider may or may not be in business should you require reinstallation in the future
3. Download speeds vary
4. Potential authentication issues depending on your service provider
5. Proof of sale is digital
6. Usable while disconnected

Just the other day I reinstalled Command and Conquer: Renegade. I picked up the disc and was playing in about five minutes. No authentication, no DRM, no online access needed. When I travel I often bring a game or two with me. Oftentimes this means I do not have internet access, as certain airport terminals still charge for access, so anything requiring authentication is out.

It certainly is the future, and I've gone so far as to look into investing in Valve (darn privately-held companies!), but there are definitely downsides.

Then again, it was challenging finding a 3.5" drive for my old Commander Keen copies, so physical copies have their own drawbacks, too.

Happy gaming,

Boz

[QUOTE="Mozelleple112"]

Sony

Urworstnhtmare

What are you on? Sony make really good head phones....

The 7506 is brilliant...

I don't think he was saying that they make bad headphones, only that additional brands should to be added to the list. Sony has a huge line of headphones; some are good, some are not. Really, any of the larger developers - Sony, Pioneer, JVC - are going to have entry-level products through high-end products in their lineup in order to appeal to multiple markets.

That's the problem with making a list of "good" and "bad" manufacturers; usually they've got a number of dogs and diamonds to form their respective lineups. That doesn't mean you can't make a list that's useful; there are certainly a few "Coby" budget brands out there to be avoided, and NVIDIATI hits all the brands known for higher-quality products in the headphone space.

Boz

Head-fi on the Beats by Dr. Dre Pro (top of the line beats):

"The soundsignature could very well be described as muddy with overbearing low end even more than the studios already had. After all monster outdid themselves with a product with No ****D amplifier Nor noise cancellation and a higher price that fell lower than the already low standard the studios had. Even if the recordings were done in such a way as to have instruments or synthesized to sound more or less at certain frequencies, the beats fell short no matter what I tried."

Even for a low price I would not buy a Beats by Dre headphone, not to mention the Studio's run on batteries and the sound fades as the power diminishes, these headphones are overpriced, produce a poor sound with little to no sound stage, and are impractical. That makes for a garbage product.

NVIDIATI

This is still not true. One reviewer does not make it so; in two minutes of Googling I can find a dozen reviewers that proclaim the opposite and - in my own experience - they are decent headphones.

That does not mean that I would buy them. It does not mean that I think they're a good deal. It does not mean I recommend them.

The sound quality is good, they look nice, they seemed rugged, which is typical of Monster: Strong branding, pretty hardware, obnoxiously overpriced, and moderate performance. Still, I certainly wouldn't put them in a cIass with Logitech or Tritton. They are not garbage, or even bad.

Now if you want to say they're a garbage value, that is something I can get behind. ;)

Boz