Hmm.. This still just doesn't bother me.  I have an always-on connection anyway, and I have other, better devices to entertain me in airports.  I mean, how often is the average gamer sitting on an airplane anyway?

I understand that it's irritating in concept, but in practice, a) I don't pirate games and b) I play PC games at home 99.5% of the time on a solid connection so c) I just won't get worked up over this. 

Let's say your internet connection is perfect and available 24/7 without any interruption. That still doesn't guarantee you have solid connection to Ubisoft server. There are a lot of switches between your ISP to ubisoft server, any of them can affect your connection to Ubisoft server. There is also no guarantee that Ubisoft server is available to accept connection. There are plenty of possibility that can cause the Ubisoft server to be inaccessible, things like overloaded (there are plenty of example where authentication server can't handle the request for activations on launch date and that is only one time connection while Ubisoft's DRM require constant connection), DDoS attack on the server, hardware failure, software bugs, networking problem, etc.

And you just know that Ubi's servers are going to see some DDoS attacks.   

That's evil thought...but totally true.  It will happen 

Yep and people will cheer it because it sticks it to Ubi - forget about that fact that it will royally fuck with people that have already paid for their games.  I gues sthey have to burn the village to save it.   I don't have the words to express my disdain, so I'll toss out the horribly used  .  Sorry

[2) Game works great 99% of the time. We kick all kinds of ass, voice chat works great, no lag, etc.]

Let me give you one example I personally experienced while playing Army of Two Two on the 360:

1) Friend and I were playing co-op with each other across the country.
2) Game works great 99% of the time. We kick all kinds of ass, voice chat works great, no lag, etc.
3) Suddenly, with no warning, we get a 'user has aborted session' error. Voice chat continues to work, so it's not like Live borked up for either of us. The otherwise perfect connection just randomly failed.
4) We now have to restart at the latest checkpoint, as A2:2 has no 'bring player back in at host's point' feature.
5) Tally beating the game twice was somewhere between a half-dozen and a full dozen blips like that.

This is what you'll be experiencing when playing a SINGLE PLAYER GAME with Ubisoft's new bullshit scheme. Your 'net connection blip for any reason? Ubisoft's servers blip for any reason? YOU'RE FUCKED.

There is NO such thing as a solid, always-on connection 100% of the time. Period.

Oh, and once again, the pirates will crack this Day 1 and will NEVER have to deal with Ubisoft's bullshit. And neither will I, because I will NEVER buy a game with this kind of protection on it.

See the bolded part.  1% more inconvenience?  I just don't care. I don't mean that in a snarky way, it's just not going to ruin my day if it happens once or twice a year or so.  UBI is not the problem - blame the pirates for making publishers resort to this bullshit.  I guess that's my fundamental issue here - assholes *steal* shit that doesn't belong to them and the publisher is blamed for having to keep putting bigger locks on their doors.  WTF?

While I do my gaming with a solid, always-on connection, it's a terrible precedent to set to make it a constant requirement where it serves no real useful purpose to the player.  As much as it likely wouldn't negatively affect my personal ability to play the games, I'd rather vote against it by not buying it.  I'm not generally a DRM alarmist, but this really rubs me the wrong way.

Well, yes, it serves no useful purpose to the player - to say that it does offer anything more than a slight incremental value (depending upon how much you value things like multiple installs/saves across different computers/locations) is nothing but marketing spin.

The question though is what benefit it offers the publisher weighed against the inconvenience (if any) to the user.  I'm not seeing any major inconvenience to the user - just much gnashing of teeth over *potential* user issues.

On a related note, who has the pool on when the first DDOS attach hits Ubi and noone can play?

Such an attack is probably likely.  Who wants odds that said attack will be perpetrated by anti-DRM zealots that are just trying to make a point?

Hmm.. This still just doesn't bother me.  I have an always-on connection anyway, and I have other, better devices to entertain me in airports.  I mean, how often is the average gamer sitting on an airplane anyway?

I understand that it's irritating in concept, but in practice, a) I don't pirate games and b) I play PC games at home 99.5% of the time on a solid connection so c) I just won't get worked up over this. 

This thread is awesome.  Kudos.

I can't even tell you how nice it is that someone else is finally taking the mantle of "most evil empire."

Indeed.  But the annoying thing about Google and their minions is that they just keep spouting that "Do No Evil" crap like a Mantra and the Google Lovers eat it up.  They're worse than the Applebots.  Seriously.

Really? Different size tires? Is the rear lifted?

Likely not.  This is a pretty common thing with BMWs, and most other RWD cars that I've run into.

Whew...glad mine is front-wheel drive then.  I can't afford an accident right now.   

That's what happens when you don't rotate your tires.  *shrug*

I have different size tires on my car so I could do side-to-side rotation, but I don't.

Add directional tires and that eliminates side to side rotation.

I know a number of folks that flip directionals side to side with no ill effects. I think the main issue you'd see is a reduction in water evacuation, which could lead to hydroplaning, which would suck.  But people do it. 

I have different size tires on my car so I could do side-to-side rotation, but I don't.

If you have 4 of the same tires it opens up the rotation options, but I would never recommend doing this unless it is completely free, or part of a prepaid dealer maintenance program.

The premise of tire rotation is to create even wear of the tires to increase the overall mileage you get from the tires before they need replacing.
The money you typically spend on rotations will far exceed any money you would save from the rotations.

It's not like rotating your tires will prevent the need of replacement, it just delays it.

Free alignment checks are always a good idea though.

Is there data that backs this up?  Besides evening wear on tires it also prevents over wear of one particular area depending on the car, the suspension and alignment.  So not rotating tires should almost certainly mean that tires will wear out faster without rotation.  I had BMW 325E for a long time and the way BMW setup the suspension the tires wore on specific areas of the tire.  Rotating them evened the wear so I would be replacing the tires at higher mileage wear.  I can attest from both of my parents cars when they were alive, not rotating will cause tires to wear out quickly as the stressed portion wears down much faster on a tire not rotated

Well, I am trying not to be snarky, but i can't resist  My data is called Math from elementary school.
Let's say you can get a full set of four tires at Costco/Walmart, Discount Tire, Sears, etc. for the typical family sedan (This example does not reflect performance tires or specialty tires)
Installed and on sale for about $400. Those tires will typically last 50k on average.

With tire rotation lets say you get an extra 10k miles out of them (at best)

Tire rotation every 7500 miles at $30. So that would be 8 rotations for 60 K miles as an example at $240.
New set of tires is $400 at 50K or $640 at 60K.

Again, if the service is included or free (like the BMW most likely) then it is worth it. If you are paying for it each time, it doesn't make financial sense.

Well.. sort of.  Don't forget that the driven wheels will wear faster generally.  If you *don't* rotate the tires chances are that while the fronts will wear faster (in a FWD car) rears could last for multiples of miles that the fronts will.  So while you might be buying front tires twice as often, you might be buying rears 3x *less* often.

But, OTOH, you have to consider that older tires will grip less than new, so your rears will not stick as well than the new fronts (which actually shouldn't be a trouble-causing issue on most FWD cars though).

Nope, but I've tot a Thrustmaster Cougar that needs a home

touche.

That's gross.

I know people would love it if the major pubs would just release digital media free of copy protection, but it just ain't gonna happen.

Tell that to Stardock.  Or are you not considering them major?

Personally I prefer disc checks than some of the alternatives.  Ubisoft has always pushed the edge of common sense with their copy protection. 

No, I don't really consider Stardock "major" in the sense that they don't publish the sort of a-list, mass media titles that everyone and their brother want to pirate/play.

That's not a knock on Stardock (I have some of their products myself) - I'm just saying that I'm not sure their methodology can translate 1-1 to a company like UBI, despite Wardell's self-righteous shtick.

I have zero problem with this. Ubi (and other pubs) are in a no-win situation.  Folks don't like it when they require the disc to be used, so they come up with electronic activation.  Then they say that there will be a patch available if the activation servers are taken offline.  I mean, Jeebus, what more can they do?

I know people would love it if the major pubs would just release digital media free of copy protection, but it just ain't gonna happen.

Were I to find myself in a situation similar to Onan's, I would probably be reluctant to impregnate my sister-in-law.  I'm just sayin'.

Perhaps you could seek counsel here.

Why would I?  There's a context and relationship where it's perfectly acceptable.

Ah, the truth comes out.  Now we know what "line" rittchard purportedly crossed - not being straight.

Bingo.  God save us from all being forced to accept the Evangelical Agenda.

[hugely derrogatory label]

Swing and a miss.  I've said nothing about gay this or that. At all. Ale called Mith a homophobe. I think that's a hugely derrogatory label that people throw down against anyone who disagrees with the gay agenda or lobby and it simply isn't true.    

Seems you're on a roll.  Hypocrite.

[the gay life style]

There we go. Anyone who disagrees with the gay life style is automatically a homophobe. I know it's easy to put anyone you disagree with in a nice tiny box tightly packaged with a label created by the far side of your position. Well played.  

 

Well, here we go...

Yeah, that darn 1st Amendment can be annoying.

As can the fact that corporations are not people and don't necessarily enjoy the same protections as real live individuals.   

I do think for most average joes, a name brand conventional motor oil will do fine. Virtually all of them already have an "additives package" in them so most experts advise staying away from any aftermarket "motor oil additive" gimmicks that claim to improve motor oil. For the most part, they don't do anything beneficial and may mess things up if anything. The "oil majors" these days are obsessed with brand differentiation and specializing, so you go to, say, Advance Auto, you'll probably be intimidated by the variety.

This.  Though I run synthetic for better durability under high-stress applications (not just track work, but also multiple cold start usage because I don't commute and do many short trips throughout the day), and because I hate changing my oil and I'd feel comfortable running any car anywhere on synth for 10K miles between changes.  (and longer for a car used only for medium/long distance commutes.) 

Actually, buying 1-2 years old still makes better sense, as someone else has paid for the drop in value.

And likely that someone has beat the hell out of the car they knew they were only going to drive for 2 years. If you want a car to last 10+ years, I certainly wouldn't want used.

I wouldn't sweat it.  There's really not a whole hell of a lot the average person can do to a brand new car that's going to cause you problems down the road.  Unless there's something specific that I have to have, demos or certified pre-owned is all I'd buy - the extended certification process combined with the extended warranty makes it a no-brainer if cost is at all a concern IMHO.

If a tundra and a cooper (which you can actually put a surprising amount of stuff in) aren't sufficient, an A3 isn't gonna help you out much, and the differential between an A3 and a Flex is so vast that I don't even understand why someone would cross-shop those if space is the primary concern.

That said, the Flex is supposed to be a great car.  If you need room for 7 for 3 or 4, or if you have to haul dogs aroundd, go for it

Crazy that these two are our current choices, huh?

So let me explain a little how we got here.

We looked at and drove several crossovers and SUVs. We had pretty much made the choice to go with the Toyota Vensa. It mostly matched our requirements and we liked it after test driving it. So we had to take the truck in for service and kind of just said "While we are there lets just get a car." So we drove a couple of them and started talking money. After the they came back with the trade in value for the Mini (it sucked!), we started kicking around the idea of keeping it instead of trading it in. So we didn't buy that day and after talking a bit my wife said "I don't think I like the Vensa after all. Too plastic-y."

We had drove the Flex and really liked it, but didn't like the gas millage. But after not liking the Vensa we came to the conclusion that with me working from home, and my wife working from home also (being mommy) that we really don't drive that much. It just becomes a long term question of what we do if our situation changes.

Oh and an update, I guess my wife was thinking about the A4 Avant Wagon: http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/audi/a4/2010/pricing-report?id=252484&category=wagon
Which would take us to the absolute top of our budget.

Honestly, it seems like the best thing to do would be punt until you know if your situation is gonna change    Still, I kinda dig the Flex and I can see why you'd want one.

You wound me, sirs.  You wound me.   

If a tundra and a cooper (which you can actually put a surprising amount of stuff in) aren't sufficient, an A3 isn't gonna help you out much, and the differential between an A3 and a Flex is so vast that I don't even understand why someone would cross-shop those if space is the primary concern.

That said, the Flex is supposed to be a great car.  If you need room for 7 for 3 or 4, or if you have to haul dogs aroundd, go for it

Three words (well, one big hyphenated word):

Chick-fil-a

The Lotus 2-Eleven sampler car isn't too shabby, can be a little squirlly w/o tuning, but looks like it's a pretty good A class car out of the box.

Car's a little squirrely in real life too  If art imitates life, the front end o fthe car is feather-lite and it will respond well to basic tuning techniques that soften the front on turn in then slow weight transfer a little. (so maybe try soft compression and somewhat harder rebound front but soften rear sways so the back doesn;t start to snap too much)  Also, because the front is so light it's important to roll on the throttle so as not to bring weight off the front too quickly.  I find that what works in tuning a 911 is also appropriate for the Lotus cars, give or take.

This is, by the way, just a wild ass guess

You both need to read the previous page...that said Tiger Woods should not have got married - just not suited to him

Is that really debatable?

keep fu**ing that chicken!

There's so much awesome in that trailer.

"No one follow us.  Or I kill myself.. and then her."

 

Oh my God! Lock me up and throw away the key.

If you think for one second that was directed at anyone in this thread, or on this forum, you've lost it. It was a statement about how many of the extremist right wing find it abhorrent that people should be guaranteed health care from birth. That wasn't an attack on anyone here.

Actually its more then just the 'extremist right wing'   according to gallup for the first time since they asked the question if its the responsibility of the government to make sure all americans have health care coverage more people said no then yes.    Of course if you believe that 50% of americans are 'extremist right wing' then maybe you will still say thats all that oppose it.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/124253/Say-Health-Coverage-Not-Gov-Responsibility.aspx

I wonder how many of those that deny coverage as a right are asshole seniors happily using Medicare?

Man...sometimes I dont get the US.
...
What gives? Are you really so afraid of people talking about sex?

Yes.

Sadly.  But as someone else said, we sure love us some killin' and 'sploshuns!    

I hope she cleans him out.

Yeah. She earned it.  Besides, if we can't be punitive, what's the point?

Objectively, in terms of impact general cultural significance, I find it hard to see an argument for something other than Guitar Hero or WOW.  That said, I own/play neither.  My own personal choices would be BF1942, Uncharted, or rFactor.

Tonight the city of Houston elected Annise Parker mayor by a fairly substantial 53% to 47% margin, making her the first openly gay mayor of a major United States city. While groundbreaking, this election comes on the heels of many electoral victories for gay folks (all, so far, Democrats) in the Lone Star state.

Interesting to note also that this was actually a run-off between two dems, the loser being a straight white dude (who, to his credit, decried some pretty blatant anti-gay rhetoric throughout the campaign)

Why would she want to step down to going in circles with inferior drivers? I don't follow American motor sports (F1 is so much more interesting), is she has a been in Indy or something?

It may be boring to watch, but those drivers are seriously good.  Driving 200mph, inches away from someone else while continually playing with the balance of the car is no joke.

Put them in a rally car and watch their balls shrivel up. 

I'd say the same about most any F1 driver.  I'd say the same about a WRC driver going into a turn in an F1 car and not having any idea what the aero on those cars can do, or letting off the gas and being slammed forward bythe aero-induced deceleration.  Point being, at that level the skills are so highly developed that I think calling any category of drivers "inferior" is a little unfair.

But I'd agree that if you had to pick what kind of racing required the widest combination of best-developed skills, rally would be way up near the top.

Why would she want to step down to going in circles with inferior drivers? I don't follow American motor sports (F1 is so much more interesting), is she has a been in Indy or something?

It may be boring to watch, but those drivers are seriously good.  Driving 200mph, inches away from someone else while continually playing with the balance of the car is no joke.

Hook 'em.

I'm not sure - I think it's a question of whether you see the PSP Go as a "decontented" model or not.  Personally, I see the smaller form factor and included digital distribution system as a feature, as opposed to seeing a lack of physical media as a negative.  It's small, convenient and flexible and I find it well worth the price compared to the need to go and buy UMDs for a PSP and then haul them around. I travel monthly (at least) and an iPhone, PSPGo and a Kindle is so much better to travel with than books and a PSP and UMDs that I'd pay MORE than 250 for the thing, but that's me.

I also rarely trade or sell games (though I do frequently give them away), so the lack of an ability to do these things or to "share" doesn't really concern me in the slightest.  I have no idea if that attitude puts me in the minority or the majority though.

+1, though I travel way more than you do.  Also, I do tend to trade out games, but I am okay with not doing so for the PSP.

What I wrote sounds kind of snooty, and I didn't mean it that way.  I will trade games in, but I don't really BUY that many to begin with so, like you, it's not a dealbreaker for me, and I find that with the meager amount you get trading them in I think it's more worthwhile to give them away anyway.  But I digress

I think what people are really saying is the the Sony's pricing of the PSP Go experience (console, game pricing, lack of free downlads for previously purchased UMD games) is horrible.  I think that if the hardware included an accelerometer and Sony created an Itunes-like appstore with similar pricing, then we would have had a winner.

Give this man a prize.

I don't care that you can ONLY download games for the thing, I am just flabbergasted that this thing costs what it does and the prices for the games aren't cheaper. There is NO WAY this thing should be even close to a $250 purchase.

I'm not sure - I think it's a question of whether you see the PSP Go as a "decontented" model or not.  Personally, I see the smaller form factor and included digital distribution system as a feature, as opposed to seeing a lack of physical media as a negative.  It's small, convenient and flexible and I find it well worth the price compared to the need to go and buy UMDs for a PSP and then haul them around. I travel monthly (at least) and an iPhone, PSPGo and a Kindle is so much better to travel with than books and a PSP and UMDs that I'd pay MORE than 250 for the thing, but that's me.

I also rarely trade or sell games (though I do frequently give them away), so the lack of an ability to do these things or to "share" doesn't really concern me in the slightest.  I have no idea if that attitude puts me in the minority or the majority though.

My two favorite bon mots from house guests visiting during the holidays.  

Last year at Thanksgiving, a friend flew in from Ohio to Chicago.  For those of you not able to google "time change eastern to central" this means a one hour time difference.  I picked him up around 10 that night from the airport.  When we got back, we watched some tv and drank a beer or two.  Finally, he mentioned he was beat and needed to hit the sack.  Then he added, "The jet lag always gets me.".

I knew I shouldn't have taken the bait.  But I did.  This resulted in a short, but heated argument after the person took offense to my observation that a one hour time difference really shouldn't result in "jet lag"...unless you were a very young child, or were unaware what "lag" actually meant.

I dunno, even an hour, especially going east to west, can really kick my ass, plus traveling is tiring anyway.  Add "a beer or two" and I've got no issues with someone saying they're beat at the end of a day where you shift an hour.