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In the world of shoes, there are several strata of consumer and many price ranges from the £20 discount pair all the way up to the £1,000 pair to be found in exclusive stores of New York, Paris and London. These products, essentially two strands of the same idea, serve very different markets.
The reason that both markets exist is because of the story that each projects. Stories are very important in sales, none more so than in shoes. The £20 shoe is a story of convenience and value. It's the person who just needs something on their feet. Maybe something that fits their general sense of style (like a pair of All Stars) or something functional. They project a story of good value and common sense. People who buy £20 shoes would never consider buying £1,000 shoes even if they had easy access to that kind of money.
The £1,000 shoes have a different story. They project the story of style, quality and individuality. They are bought precisely because they are exclusive, because the importance of the conveyance of image far outweighs the material of the shoe itself. The designer, the fabrics and the perfect cut are all a part of the story of the shoe.
The same distinction exists in many areas. Cars are separated along several strata with story splits between value, pragmatism, professionalism or sexual appeal. Restaurants split between fast, comfortable, exclusivity, quality. In fact it is very hard to see any area of business that doesn't at some level segment its stories in this way.
Which leads me to thinking about games. Arguably there are two broad stories throughout the gaming sphere: The casual game and the hardcore game. The casual game is cheap, fun, family entertainment. Unthreatening training for your brain, fitness programs or a bit of light sports. The hardcore game's story is more of a male-oriented skill-test. Hardcore gaming is deep, involving, interesting.
What I'm wondering lately is whether there is room for super-premium games? By this I mean game machines that cost £1,000, perfectly scultpted joypads and games that cost £500 a piece. This sounds insane, but if it works for shoes then why not for games? It's all in the story.
For many years the hardcore games industry has relied on the teenage boy syndrome. These guys think big but they tend to be poor. They're dedicated but they're often paying for games with their rent or food money. They're students, schoolkids, etc. Whatever is built has to meet their needs first and foremost. Hence the consoles tend to have a sort of weirdly fake youthful image that you don't see in other electronics. In televisions or Blu-Ray players, the premium story is much older, more class. In games it's, for the want of a better word, various shades of L33T.
So what this leads me to is thinking did Sony screw it up in the wrong direction. With PS3 everyone believed that they pitched too high ($599! $599! $599! as Kaz Hirai was memory mocked on Youtube). And since backtracking they have had to try and salvage 3rd place. What if Sony just didn't go far enough though? What if, rather than a somewhat mangled message of old classics and new rejuvenations and Cell processors, they pitched for the ceiling and brought the thunder with them. Sell the PS3 at $2,000 and bring the most ridiculously awesome games to match. Sell it as a piece of cool, exclusive tech, with the story that this is a game machine for men rather than teenagers.
Basically be classy. Be bold. Develop outrageously expensive and individual work of art games, games that cost £500 a pop and radiate quality. It doesn't have to be Sony. It's just an idea for a segment and a business that might soon exist.
What do you think?
(@tadhgk on Twitter)
|Tyler Glaiel
I disagree completely. An expensive shoe can just be a rebranded cheap shoe. An expensive game would have to be different, and would have to take millions to develop. You aren't gonna recoup millions if your game costs $1000, since there are plenty of quality cheap alternatives. Nevermind that games are a much more private affair than shoes, and as a result you'll have less people to display your status to.
And we're in an economic recession. And most "expensive" consoles have failed in the past.
|Stephen Northcott
I also disagree. There are far more price ranges of shoe.
Far better to provide $80 - $100 shoes which last and look good.
Generally "shoe" people who buy expensive designer foot apparel are doing so for totally different reasons than those who buy expensive electronics gear.
Sure you could get an idiot like PDiddy to buy your bling, but he does so simply because he is as brainwashed as the people who believe that the $20 shoe will last longer than the first time they get wet..
With regards to Sony. They don't think it's over yet. And regardless of whether they are right or wrong about the end of this "console conflict" they are actually producing a better quality product which should be sold for more. It's simply that Microsoft had far more resources to throw into a battle which not only crippled much of the diversity of our industry by enslaving key publishers among other things, but also foisted a technically incomplete, badly manufactured console with a 50% failure rate on the market. Amazing what brand presence and aggressive marketing can do isn't it....
It's very reminiscent of Beta vs VHS. And guess what.. In the end the consumer loses. That's all.
|Tadhg Kelly
Do you both disagree on the grounds of your personal ethical preferences, or are you saying you think there's no actual business there?
|Tyler Glaiel
I think there's no actual business there, considering cost of development required to make a game people would view as being worthy of the large price tag. People like to show off their status symbols. That's easy to do with laptops, clothes, and cars, but most people keep their games in their home.
|Tadhg Kelly
I'm not sure if that's relevant. Buying into stories isn't just about visual status. People don't just buy expensive food in restaurants just to be seen, but also because of the perception of really quality entertainment. Art collectors aren't just looking to have a personal gallery. Super hi-end HD-TV buyers aren't always having their friends around the house to show off.
|Tyler Glaiel
Eating at expensive restaurants is very much a status thing and people do it to show off. Food is also minimally expensive to produce, so a single expensive meal at a normal restaurant will generate profit.
"Tierney says the item attracts Wall Street types who down a few beers and then fork over $175 to 'show off in front of their friends.' "
Art collectors buy art as an investment.
High end HDTVs can still use same technology as lower end ones, and can still watch the same content.
Launching the PS3 at $2000 would undeniably reduce the console's market share hugely and undebatably. For a game developer then, where's the incentive to produce a high end title for a system with minimal market share? And who's gonna buy a $2000 console without a library of games to go with it? It's a chicken and an egg kind of thing.
Now, a separate $2000 model of PS3 could work, because like a high end blue-ray player or TV it would still be able to play the same content as the lower end model. And a $250 game HAS worked (rock band, guitar hero, because they're bundled with hardware). But I doubt jacking up GTAIV's price to $200 would net more profit than it's standard $60 price point. It's like the iphone app store. $0.99 games get WAY more sales than $1.99 games, often times an order of magnitude so. It doesn't even make sense on that platform to try and go more expensive than $0.99.
|Tadhg Kelly
"Eating at expensive restaurants is very much a status thing and people do it to show off. Food is also minimally expensive to produce, so a single expensive meal at a normal restaurant will generate profit."
Not at all. This is where we disagree about people. Some restaurants in London (where I live) are well-known celeb-haunts. The Ivy, for example, is a place where you go be seen to eat. On the other hand, there are many other restaurants like Petrus which are not celeb haunts as such but do such a fantastic meal that it is worth the treat. Those kinds of quality-eating places are far more in the majority.
Which brings me back to is this a personal preference argument rather than a business argument. Your counterpoints seem to stem from a perception of people with means as nothing more than overt-consumptionists (i.e. they do everything with money just to be seen). I think there is definitely an element of that in high society, but it's not the full picture by any means.
Not all art is bought as investment. The stuff for many millions is, but many of the $10-$50,000 pieces are not. You can get cheaper tech in HDTVs, you can get cheaper shoes, but some people choose to buy into the better-quality story and want something better than the norm.
A $2,000 console would not be a mass market item. It's not required for a high-ticket item to be mass market though. Manolo Blahniks are not mass market shoes, but what they are is really good shoes with a great story. $80,000 BMWs are not mass market cars. What they are are really good cars with a great story.
My point with this super-premium idea is to get away from the idea of the mass-market console. It's to deliberately not engage with that kind of thinking and deliberately look to create something premium as opposed to mainstream. At those prices you'd be working to a different kind of market mentality, one whose values are worlds apart from what we consider to be gaming.
|David Ellis
The only example of a successful "prestige console" that I can think of is the Neo-Geo (1990). The console had a higher price point than anything on the market at the time ($399 for the basic system, $599 for the deluxe system with two controllers and a game cartridge), and the games retailed for $199 apiece. The hardcore gamers all wanted one. Bit the thing that made this system work was that the hardware was the same as the arcade Neo-Geo hardware and the cartridges used were the same as those used in the coin-op cabinets. For consumers, it was a cheaper alternative to buying an arcade cabinet, and there was a reasonably good catalog of games available. For SNK, it was a minimal investment because the hardware and the games already existed. So, despite the fact that it had a tiny, tiny market share compared to other consoles of that era, it managed to remain on the market for 6 years.
Other high-end systems of the past never caught on. The RDI Halcyon for example. This was a system released in 1984 that played Laserdisc games at home. Despite the fact that Laserdisc games were all the rage at the time, nobody was willing to pay $2500 for the console. Only two games were every made for it--one that came with the console and one additional title that sold for $100. It died a quick, obscure death.
It could be the "story" that made the differencebut I think that, with gamers, its a matter of what story youre telling to other gamers. The Neo-Geo played games that EVERY gamer could see in the arcades, so there was some prestige in having a Neo-Geo console in your home. The Halcyon played Thayer's Quest (an obscure arcade title) and NFL Football (not in the arcades at all), so nobody knew or cared what it was.
I guess what Im getting at is that Im not sure that there are enough game console consumers out there who are willing to buy high-end for the satisfaction of it. Which means that its unlikely that any company would risk making such a high-end item.
|Tyler Millican
Access to items in an MMO that, while functionally the same, are visually different or more impressive: Literally nothing but a status symbol, and a desirable one at that (not just an icon saying "I paid more money!"). As long as there's no difference in gameplay, I think that matches the idea pretty directly.
As gaming becomes more "mainstream", this will become more common, but really, it already exists today -- transparent PC cases with neon lights, non-standard accessories that are slightly higher-quality or offer a non-standard feature (controllers when wired controllers were the norm are a good example here), higher-quality hardware in general, etc. The price differences aren't be as significant, but I imagine more affluent people wear shoes than play video games and I have yet to see anyone walking around with a picture of their WoW avatar for the world to see, so fair enough.
|Christian Perez Villalobos
Ahh but we forget, what snakes lie in the shadows. There already exists a premium console and it sits right under our noses.
The secret to premium gaming is less about the game and more about the devices it uses.
Imagine a game on the PS3 that required, a steering wheel and pedals, joystick, and the eye of judgement. A baffling and curious game i know, but we can easy see how piling on these devices could raise these systems to a premium market.
Now i must admit , it is impossible to fathom such a game on the PS3, however i would not be surprised if the Wii ,with its numerous attachments and modifications, to take advantage of an un aware premium market. Although the technology to reach to $2000 dollar mark does not seem so readily available at this time, the Wii can easily reach $599 with only a handful of attachments and a few players. Balance board, wii motion plus, wii speak ....
You may be right about the different set of vaules though Mr. Kelly, however those same vaules of owning something especially fine or being seen with high-end products are rampant in MMOS. For many players and many people collecting rare and powerful items is point of the game; and no matter how much lore or detail we cram into this world, the gear will always be the most important aspect.
I do believe these values interscect with gaming, but it needs to be in a competitive immersive situation where the individual is able to distinguish herself/himself from other players. Life is just a game after all, so says the book of Sims.
|Adam Bishop
I think Tyler has hit on the most relevant point, which isn't cost to the consumer, but to the manufacturer. How much R&D money would Sony have to pour in to make a console that retailed at $2000? Could there possibly be a big enough market for a system at that price point to bring in a positive return on investment? I'm extremely skeptical. A $1000 pair of shoes requires relatively little investment on the part of the manufacturer in comparison to a $100 pair of shoes, but a $2000 console would cost far, far more to produce than a $200 console. Sony has *already* had problems selling enough consoles when the PS3 has sold for slightly more than its competitors, I can't imagine that increasing the price would grow their revenue enough to compensate for the even smaller customer base.
|Mark Sorrell
You could spend $2000 on a PC to play games in the blink of an eye. And a subscription to WoW would hit $500 in about, umm, four years? And it's been out for longer than that.
The nearest thing I can see to the point you're really trying to make is the audiophile market, where $2000 is often a drop in the ocean. But there's no real analogue to the $500 game. A $40,000 CD player still plays regular CDs. So maybe if you could make a PS3 that played regular games - but better! - you'd have something people would buy.
Actually, there's no maybe about it - see $2000 PCs for evidence.
And that audiophile comparison holds pretty well for shoes. At least so far as the status symbol part goes. $500 shoes don't 'use a new format' they still just go on your feet. Their functionality is identical - and in trainer terms, they are no better than the cheaper versions. Nike Air Force Ones or Dunks both come in varieties that cost from £50 up to far more than £1000. They don't do anything different.
So yeah, I can't find a good analogy for $500 games outside of the already mentioned Neo Geo.
|Kim Pallister
It's an interesting premise and thought exercise, but I'm skeptical.
Two concepts being mixed together are (a) the utility & quality provided (one could make a case that the $150 dollar shoe is more comfortable, longer lasting, etc, than the $20 shoe), and (b) the less tangible elements of luxury, prestige, etc, when you head up toward your $1000 mark.
On the first of those, we clearly have this today, with the span from free Flash-based web games to $60 console titles or MMOs. Lots of questionable exceptions up and down that chain, but on average it fits.
On the second one, it's trickier. We have a hint at it with things like "collectors edition" releases with an additional $10 price adder, but beyond that, the examples are lacking.
The reasons for my skepticism is in what these luxury items offer to the consumer (or what they believe they offer anyway). Social status, prestige, sex appeal.
I think we're a very long way of people increasing their chances of getting someone into bed with their exclusive premium copy of Bioshock.
Though I suppose stranger things have happened.
|Glenn Storm
I have no problem with the idea of "super premium" content and style, or even exclusivity. But, as a business model, there's a problem. Where I think the shoe analogy falls short is the fact that clothing is put on the individual and becomes part of them as they interact with the rest of the world. Its value comes from the fact that it's an immediate visual status symbol to others. Rare items that don't provide the immediate visual status symbolism can't be redeemed by the consumer in that way, normally. Instead, rare items that can't provide that are more valuable only because they are rare. As a sub-genre business model, I don't think you can produce rare items and survive, unless video game *collecting* becomes a popular hobby on par with stamp or coin collecting. I think where the game market is now is more about the immediate gratification and novelty of the game experience.
|Eric Carr
I can see that working. But you couldn't market it since the high price would kill the install base and eat any profit that a developer could make.
What I could see is making a system with built in custom controls that only plays a single game, but really well. Oh, wait, too late - it's called an arcade cabinet and those already sell as prestige items for game nerds like myself.
|Tomer Chasid
apples and oranges guys. The buying behavior of shoe shoppers and the buying behavior of game shoppers may have some similarities but more differences that make a bigger impact. Generally speaking the primary purpose of "luxury" shoe is to stand out and the primary purpose of a low-end shoe is to cover your feet. Tyler, while game purchases are private on the surface they are very much a public affair. Gamers, hardcore or otherwise are motivated by way more than just having fun or getting immersed. Emotional attachments to games have an incredible bearing on social status. Getting a game as soon as its out at a premium price vs. waiting until it drops or buying used games definitely dictate two different "stories". I don't believe we've nailed down appropriate market subsegments to make the case for broader pricings than currently exist. That's not to say that they shouldn't, but I don't think how currently define the market as being "hard core" vs "casual" is sufficient. It's a very difficult proposition because gamers are extremely dynamic in terms of purchasing behavior and lifestyle. That's the price of appealing to the mass market.
The other major point is that on the system end, as others have mentioned PCs should always be included in with console because they are often used as a primary source of entertainment. It is unwise not to include PCs in any conversation about gaming because of their ubiquity and impact on gaming. So if we are talking with PCs in the mix than there's your broader strata.
|Luis Guimaraes
Things like this is what you see in technology fairs and arcade places. You can buy it for yourself if you want. But there's still a market for this business. I don't think any entertaiment media, as literature or movies does have such business model. It's simply not the same easy to brainwash people that some game is better, unless it's really better.
The simple difference is that a shoe that is sold by $2,000 is more often cost under $50 to be made. It's clear to see who is the smart part, the people who sell it.
|Luis Guimaraes
Ow, sh!!
@ Tadhg
You're RIGHT! But instead of the $500 game, I'd say the $500 montly subcription. =)
The public for that would almost be that same public for the $1000 shoes.
You CAN make an MMO alternative life such a high-society club. I think I'm being naive for talking about $500 only. A nice place with many microtransactions and casinos. Maybe that's the direction.
|Luis Guimaraes
Personal custom modeled avatars and correct marketing on the correct media, Gossip Magazines and Such... hmmm
|Luis Guimaraes
Proper media cover, and a custom fancy Pocket Console that only runs this game and can be carried (and showed) everywhere... People with money goes only for the fashion wave, plus if you say some part of the money goes for a good cause :)
Gossip mag: "Oh, something recused to join somegame that all others joined to help some cause!!" :C
|Kevin Reese
I don't see any feasibility at all on super-high-end, expensive games having any chance of success. It is a lot harder to 'show off' a game you bought. And most people would not be impressed. It also just makes sense in so many other ways that the better you made the game, the greater the audience you'd want to share it with.
Exceptions: if you guys haven't heard of the "I am rich!" iPhone app, I recommend taking a minute to Google that. Interesting and funny case -- though I think it would not be repeatable.
Another exception: 'bling' items in MMORPGs, and other social MMOs. Certainly there is potential for either game devs or players making ultra-exclusive, over-priced items, and having people pay money for them.
|Jason Rice
The comparison between high end consumer products like boutique shoes & clothes and a game fails not due to a problem with perceived value in software, as some of the previous posters commented, but because it doesn't make business sense on a per-unit basis.
A high end shoe or clothing item function as a business model because each *individual* item generally makes a nice profit. Hand-crafted leather shoes cost X number of dollars to create, so charging X+Y for them automatically generates a profit. These are single-unit risks with a potentially high profit margin.
Moving up to boutique clothing items. These are not single-unit risks but are generally produced on a much smaller scale than clothes you will find at Walmart, so a lot of 500 shirts is much more likely to find an audience and turn a profit. They may be very expensive to create, but textiles only cost so much and only need to sell a limited amount of units to turn a nice profit.
A game is a much higher risk proposition. It costs much more to develop a game than hand-crafted leather shoes, so the cost must be distributed out over thousands of copies to create a return on an investment. How many copies of a game that costs $10 million to produce must be sold to make a profit? Per unit, the profits are generally very small because the initial cost is high and the market is flooded with similar product. To achieve "super-premium" quality in a game, you would have to spend an astronomical amount of money. Since your initial risk is so high, its a bad value proposition to gamers and risk proposition to a studio/publisher to sell a game that costs that much to produce at such a high price. You cannot achieve a good enough profit margin on a per unit basis without making the game impossibly expensive to purchase.
Again, It's not a matter of status. Look at the people who paid for the "I Am Rich" application for the iPhone. That was a low risk/high return proposition because one person probably programmed that in a day and it was purchased by a handful of people. So people will definitely pay for status. With a real game, its really a matter of scale. It just isn't economically viable to run a business this way unless those super premium games can be created by a couple of people... but if you could create something that great for such a low cost, why not sell it for way less and make way more money? Anyway you slice it, this is an idea fail.
|Christopher Braithwaite
Racing games are already approaching premium with special wheels, chairs and three screen configurations. Currently one can put together such a system with moderate difficulty and success. What if Microsoft were to offer an Ultimate Forza Edition with the racing chair, wheel, and three Xbox 360's running in parallel to drive high resolution screens? On top of which a licensed technician would come out to your home to set up all the equipment? I can see something like that being compelling enough to be profitable in three to five years.
Or what if there were only 100 copies of Gears of War 6 or Final Fantasy XLVIII that ran on super customized uber-hardware? Designers could have baked in financing for their very specific visions that people have already bought before the games have even been made. Since the games are tied to the hardware piracy isn't an issue. There are $1,000 CDs that supposedly offer better sound quality because of the material they're made of. Like Tadhg says it's all about the story. I'm not saying any of this is viable right now, but I can see premium games happening as the current generation ages.
Imagine 20 or 30 years into the future when names like Miyamoto (or maybe Blow) are as revered as Ferragamo, the language for making great games has finally been cracked so that games are differentiated by the personality who created them rather than the commoditized quality of the experience, and a generation that grew up with games finally has ridiculous spending power with paid off mortgages and no more children to send to college. At such a time I can see a market for super premium games, and I can imagine games being premium long before that.
I think there's more to this idea than people are giving it credit for, just like people once laughed at bottled water and Japanese luxury cars.
|Christopher Braithwaite
BTW, I think the generalization that people only buy luxury goods to 'show off' betrays a grave misunderstanding of both human nature and luxury. Sure some people do, but not everything in life is about bling.
|Tadhg Kelly
That's what I'm saying Christopher well said. It's not about bling, it's about the story. I feel some people are viewing purchases purely in the terms of utility, which is to say they're buying their valuable shoes on the basis of who they can show those shoes to. People are forgetting the emotional draw of the shoe itself to that person regardless of the visible opportunity. Why do some people buy high-count Egyptian cotton sheets? Not to show off mostly (unless you're in the habit of showing off your bed). Or fancy bathrooms. Or getaway log cabins. And if they are just buying for utility, why are they spending so much?
On the question of per-unit viability and exclusive content, I think these are the wrong ways to look at this. What you're doing is making a content=value judgement (which gamers typically make) and therefore assuming that to charge more you have to have more content. Again, that's looking at it from the point of view of utility.
I see super-premium games as more akin to Chess sets carved out of ivory and obsidian. At root they must be great games, but on the surface they must be presented well. So not just a silver disc in a box. A golden disc in a velvet lined Tiffany's-esque box. A game of quality implementation where art direction has (or supposedly has, whatever fits the story) a message over and above the usual hub-bub. A game worth having for the ages as a mark of cultural achievement.
It works in every other medium and business. Why not ours?
|Tyler Glaiel
"It works in every other medium and business. Why not ours?"
I don't ever see "premium" movies out there. When was the last time you had the option of seeing a movie for $100?
|John Sear
Great discussion :) A different angle of how we could get people to pay £500 for the same game.
I think the key word is scarcity. Supply Vs Demand - the more people that want something the higher the price is - providing there is a limited number of said good. However, different people can afford to pay different amounts (depending on what else they spend their money on).
Take a big title that sells crazy amounts in the opening weekend such as a GTA or Halo. Everyone is happy to pay £30 for a copy, but because the game is so cheap to mass produce there is little chance of a shortage of the games.
The real trick (and where economics comes in) is finding out how much each person is actually willing to pay and allowing those with more money to pay a higher price. If you're interested in this - take a look at 'The Undercover Economist'
So really the industry needs to introduce artifical scarcity. How could they do this? What we'd like to do is sell the game for £500 in the opening weekend and then reduce the price as the weeks go by until we get down to the standard £30.
They would probably be an outcry - although they manage it to some extent in the publishing industry, by releasing the higher priced hardback book several months before the cheaper paperback.
BTW I'm not condoning this idea! It does remind me of the days of paying huge amounts to import console games though.
|Tadhg Kelly
With film I was thinking more of the price of things like prized movie memorabilia. Same with the rare book market. Granted not quite the same thing, but applicable nonetheless I think.
|Luis Guimaraes
I can't imagine a single game out there that could worth $500 if it was a premium. I got Tadhg's point, but it's really hard to have nowadays. I think the $55 Modern Warfare 2 is this actual peak, there are cheaper games out there, and it would must be a super game with a super history, or a very nice mechanics pack with a dozen mods with different stories made by many developers, like it is when you get a hi-culture graphic novel HQ. It must be a masterpiece collection and not less.
At the best, a revamped collector's edition GotY in designer's cut version with many, many additions, something worthing it's forever.
|Tadhg Kelly
I had a further thought on this: What about a self-contained game?
I mean as in a machine and game all at once. Forget the console paradigm and think instead of like a really expensive Game and Watch or Tamagotchi or that kind of thing.
|Tyler Glaiel
I think the only brand that could pull that off would be Rock Band or Guitar Hero
|Keith Nemitz
There was that $5000 iPhone game, er, animated picture of a gem. Apple booted the app, but some copies were sold. (although, they may have been refunded)
I think the MMO route has definite possibilities. Especially if you brought in celebrity writers and artists to make content. MMOs aren't easily pirated, but it's content can be easily spoiled.
|James Hofmann
Nike is able to release a "new" shoe with a high price, but the distinguishing factor is that they are selling a brand which has incredible power; the best shoes of the world's most famous shoemaker.
So I think the key ingredient here is that the brand has to already be trusted. Movie memorabilia gains value after the movie's release, but only if the movie is considered a classic. Similarly, old games can be more valuable than new ones - if the game is a known collector's item. An upsell of 10x or more doesn't happen on the initial release, and introducing an all-new game alongside an all-new platform just brings up more unknowns in the customer's mind.
Most of the biggest sells in the game collector's market have come from things that are not intrinsically better: For example, the Nintendo World Championships gold cartridges. The "gameplay" of the NWC cart is three previously existing games with time limits, one new level(for Rad Racer), and cross-game scoring bolted on. The gold carts have no difference from the gray ones other than they're gold, and there are only 26 of them in the world, vs 90 of the gray. And yet they are valued at well over $10,000 each.
Similarly, rare games from more recent times have often seen their used prices soar. Rez and Gitaroo Man were trading well above retail in the early 2000s, until reissues came out.
The thing is, with the collectables, with the used games, with Nike's high-end items, you can be 100% sure what you're getting. Age and consensus has given them prestige that can't be won during the product introduction phase. A new game at those prices promises a *tangible* improvement over the mainstream and puts all the focus on "well, how good is it? Does it rate the price?" The economics of production don't allow you to give games the kinds of tangible improvements that make high-end cars or computers expensive, so it'll fail this test every time.
So you could easily make a "Pokemon Collector's Edition" that is slightly distinguished from the other versions of Pokemon and goes for twice as much(indeed, this sort of thing is pretty much the basis of all Pokemon merchandise), but an original game would only suffer from trying that.
|Colin Anderson
What a thread you've started Tadhg - well done!
My gut feeling says there might be a business model in the "Super Group" approach. You know, get Will Wright, Sid Meier, Dave Jones and Pete Molyneux together to work on a new game and then sell it at a premium price point using the prestige game story. Worth a try - just don't ask me to invest in the idea, because I still believe it will ultimately come down to how much fun it is! ;-)
The only other £500 game I can think of is World of Warcraft. If you've been subscribing since it launched you're well on your way to that by now.
Great food for thought though - thanks for sparking the debate.
|Elliot Green
The luxury brand game console exists. It is called Alienware. They have trendy cases, and are outrageously expensive. If you want to run Crysis at full graphics you could always build a computer yourself for a quarter of the price, but everybody wants to show their friends $4000 worth of X files themed silicone and plastic.
Also, people pay thousands of dollars for property on World of Warcraft.
The reason why these luxury schemes get by is because they are compatable with less expensive alternatives. Although some people pay lots of money to play WOW, if everybody had to pay lots of money, then few people would be playing. Alienware computers run windows and have amd or intel processors just like average computers.
Actually, rich people buy "art" such as pickled sharks to feel inteligent. The million dollar sharks eventually get moldy, and are no longer a symbol of refinement.
|Lorenzo Gatti
The expensive console segment is already well covered by products that don't cost billions to develop: branded or differently painted "special editions", bizarre variations, modding and jewel enclosures.
The expensive game segment, as others have noted, is similarly covered by low-risk variants of normal games: special editions with insignificant extra content, fancy boxes, custom (often merely branded) peripherals, assorted gadgets (from art books to T-Shirts).
The secondary market is actually the main way to spend insane amounts of money on games and consoles: there are prototypes, exotic and unique arcade machines, extremely limited production runs, leaked hardware variants, and so on. But we're talking about serious collecting, not showing off luxury toys to friends.
Another problem of luxury games as described in the article is that games are media, and media are not priced by quality: good novels cost as much as bad novels of similar page count, binding and age, films cost more only when they come with 3D glasses, and so on. Quality is rewarded by the volume of sales.
There is no way to convince someone to pay more for a game only because it is especially good, and no way to add perceived monetary value except the mentioned unimportant extras.
|Luis Guimaraes
I can only think of developers buying such games, even tho it's still a hard deal. It's about the fact that with $500 you can buy ten $50 titles with all worth they have. And there's still people that goes for piracy by thinking it's not worth by a $50 game, but it's not the subject here.
But it's still a problem, a $50.000 painting may cost $20 and a couple hours for the artist. Games cost so much. Modding is the only way to get a low-cost game, with a general gameplay gender and something else.
Artbooks and some extras are a bit too, but not all that worth yet. Nothing to make a game cost only and always $500. But I can wonder about very good sims (almost serious games), like hunting sims, flight simulator, fishing and so on, but it'd need to be and ultimate open-ended experience, with all-worth replay and such. Nothing like producing and entire gameplay and such, no score systems or linear story, no ending and so on... Just a base-gameplay used on many games of different themes, like hunting, stealth... In somehow the cost of making a new game would be reduced (but you still could sell it at $50 ship or $15 download and make so much more money).
It must be something made in together with a mainstream product, so you're not making all the money go into making that title.
|David Ellis
"I had a further thought on this: What about a self-contained game?"
Actually, self-contained, high-end, self-contained video games do exist--Multicade and Arcade Classics cabinets that have anywhere from 60 to as many as 1000 classic arcade games built into them. Those cabinets sell for around $3000 at places like Costco around the holidays. (You can get them for less at an arcade auciton, but you're still looking at over $1000 usually.)
Not all of those are sold to consumers, of course. But obviously they do sell or else they wouldn't be made. Of course, these games resonate with nostalgic gamers, so they have an extra hook.
I think when you look at it from that perspective it's a whole different ballgame. If it's a one-time investment and you're not forced to pay for new games over time, it's probably more palatable. Although I'd never pay over about $300 for a console, I have paid as much as $600 for an arcade video game (I have 12) and as much as $3500 for a pinball machine (I have 3). So, yeah...that definitely changes the equation.
|Luke Pearce
Definitely an interesting idea a lot of the comments on here seem to presume that just because 'most' people wouldn't spend that amount of money that it wouldn't work.
I think there would be a market for it (top-end Alienware style PC rigs still sell well enough I beleive) but would it be big enough? Assuming it'd cost £10 million to create a game/unit you'd need to sell 20,000 copies/units to break break-even.
If you decide not to make the game content absolutely fantastic and decide to go another route - what value are you going to add which will appeal to the higher-end market?
Probably more importantly, if you are doing a multi-game system, would you be able to get buy in from other developers?
Things like the neo geo probably had a slight advantage because (it seemed to me) they were basically selling a home version of their coin-op arcade machines so 1) they had a good selection of games that could be sold on the system 2) they had a pretty good alternative source of revenue.
Speaking of which I wonder if this would work as a single unit sold mainly to businesses (pubs, arcades, shopping centres etc). A lot of coin-op games seem to have gone the way of the dodo compared to when I was younger but I wonder if these could be revived and re-introduced in a new way. Remember when those big bulky Virtual Reality machines were all the rage - maybe something new, innovative and online could get the business market back on to buying into something like this...
|Kim Pallister
>So not just a silver disc in a box. A golden disc in a velvet lined Tiffany's-esque box
We already have that. An embossed metal tin instead of cardboard box, a detailed instruction book or comic instead of a paper leaflet, etc. And a portion of the market already pays a 15% premium for that.
Beatles Rock band is going to have a $250 deluxe version with 'authentic' instruments over the generic ones, and that'd constitute another example.
The question then is whether you are proposing something different be done *with the game itself* to justify these or bigger premiums, or whether this is just hope that this kind of accoutrement will garner 900% markup instead of one of 15%.
|Rikki Prince
I'm a little disappointed that the naysayers here cannot seem to see past what already exists and what the current market can support. Surely the point of this post is to look past what is currently done and how people currently spend to see if a new market or product is feasible?
The way I see the analogy, people buy £1000 shoes because they are created by a designer they (a) like, or (b) want people to think they like. There is also an element of limited supply, as the designer may be making them by hand or on a limited run.
I think the key thing being paid for is this creativity. This is what is what makes it unique and worthy. There are other psychological and societal aspects which determine *who* will pay that much for these things, but it being created by a certain person is what makes it special in the first place.
I can imagine this happening in games if some of the superstar designers (eg. someone like Miyamoto) decided to set up "boutique" development studios, producing excellent games, selling for £1000 in a limited run.
The hurdles are clear though. Cost of development is high for "blockbuster" games is huge. But these games wouldn't necessarily need to be bigger and more expensive than those; they would just need to be more special. They could be a small arcade game, but have such flair and creativity in the mechanics, and be so well polished that someone would pay £1000 for a "Miyamoto Original".
The other hurdle is piracy. Given that this is software, it can be cracked and redistributed. Even if the developer plans to only sell 100 copies, there is always the chance that someone will redistribute it, somewhat reducing it's rarity. But maybe this is just like a Prada knock off. You and your mates know you can't afford the real thing, so even if you have it, it's because you have a pirated copy.
Finally, the awareness issue. Gaming can be private, but the social aspect is taking off more and more. What if the "Miyamoto Original" was multiplayer only, and in your social circle you are the only one who can afford to buy it? You get the prestige of owning it, when all your friends come around to play it at your house. The console social networks also have an effect. The "Miyamoto Original" would also come with unique Achievements and Trophies, so you'll be the only person on your friends list that will have those.
I think this is an interesting proposition, but would take a lot of guts to pull off. It would almost certainly have to be a game designer with enormous existing acclaim, and relies on video games becoming art as opposed to toys. Toys are mass produced; art is appreciated.


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Elisabetta Canalis is the new face (and body) of Roberto Cavalli's underwear collection. Check out pics of Elisabetta Canalis backstage at the photo shoot.
Charm, Charisma and Sensuality
"For my new underwear collection I chose Elisabetta again… my ideal of a woman: charm, charisma and sensuality, united together," Roberto Cavalli explained.
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subset: commoncrawl


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EH1 2HE Edinburgh
For over 10 years The Liquidroom has been entertaining music fans in and around Scotland by hosting gigs and events 7 days a week , 365 days a year. We are proud to have worked with artists from every music genre ; from Hip Hop to Rock, Country to Pop and we have seen Dj's from around the globe grace our stage for some phenomenal club nights. We pride ourselves on being a venue that is open to all which is available to hire, as well as in-house promotion being key to our events calendar. After being closed for refurbishment for almost 2 years, we are happy to be back bigger and better than ever. Technically we have installed a bespoke and state of the art sound and lighting system yet unseen in any venue of our size in the UK. We look forward to another ten years of hosting some of Scotland's best music events and club nights.
Then Jerico
Phenomenal!! from Judith, 24/05/13
Went to the gig in Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh on 8th May 2013, part of the Reprise Tour and it was no less than phenomenal!! Then Jerico are a fantastic band live, an extremely talented group of guys. Got a place right in the middle at the front of stage, prime spot, enjoyed every minute, great, classic, energetic music as always. Mark is a superb front man and made my day by singing happy birthday to me. Great to meet the band outside for pics and autographs, they were all as friendly and happy to chat as always, love you guys. xx Judith.


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More reviews by lawschoolnerd1
I'm not really sure what to think about all the negative reviews here. While this isn't the best foundation, it is a fairly good product. Studio Tech covers my acne scars, is an exact colour match for my skin, and looks fantastic in photos. The main thing I love about this product is you can get fuller coverage without having to use a huge amount of product. However, staying power (or lack thereof) is a huge weakness for this product. I have used a litany of primers with this, but nothing can stop it from melting off my forehead and getting patchy on my cheeks during warm weather. I'm on my second one right now, but I'm not sure I will repurchase again. For the price, I have discovered foundations that, in my opinion, work better. Still my favourite MAC foundation, though. I use this when I feel like taking a break from liquid or need some heavier coverage. Application is important with this product. Use a brush (the MAC 190 is good) and not the sponge that is included. I tried to apply this product once using the sponge and all it did was absorb too much of the product and leave my face looking streaky. This product should last a long time and you definitely get your money's worth.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
I bought this product because I thought it would cover my blemishes..It actually did cover almost everything and the color was perfect.But,by the end of the day I was super oily and it was actually melting off..As for the break-outs!!OMG!The next day I was covered with pimples and cysts..The worst product I've ever used!If you're acne-prone don't even think about buying it and spend your money on it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
More reviews by LaurenReneeArvay
The lady at the counter put this on me and topped it with the mineralize skin finish powder and it looked fantastic. I was in love with it! I wore it around for a little while, then took it off in the shower with my cleanser and proceeded to wash my face like normal. This stuff gave me HORRIBLE, and I do mean horrible breakouts. I woke up the next morning and my cheeks were covered in little red bumps. About a month later I tried it again and it did the same thing just on a smaller scale. It does a great job of covering but it is not for daily use. I really had high hopes for this product and it just didn't come through. I've got it in the back of my makeup collection for special occasions or something like that but after I use this up I will not be repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
Ohhhh Mac...The first MAC product I ever bought 3 years ago...the stupid SA matched me to an NC 45 when i was actually NC 43 (I find out 2 months later!!) ...They put it all over my face and mixed in a bit of orange into it to make my acne scars disappear...inside the showroom it looked okay in their yellow lighting...so I bought it...big mistake that made me a lot wiser...CHECK ur foundations in NATURAL lighting, ladies!!! I walked to my car and looked in t mirror and saw how i looked lyk a carrot!! I decided it was the orange colour they mixed and went home anyway and used it a couple of times...it gives great coverage for acne scars so I was happy with it. I was using the proactiv system at the time so the foundation would make the flaking seem less obvious...I used it till I saw how my neck is a lot lighter than my FACE with that on...so i went to another MAC counter...matched me with an NC 43! wth?! I couldn't even return the NC 45 so now i'm stuck with two Studio techs that I don't even use! I use my NC 43 as a concealer under other foundations I use...cuz I feel this may be breaking me out...would not take it from anyone even if i got it for FREE! (unless its to exchange t packages for a lippie online!)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
You need to be careful how you apply this and you also need to have just moisturised/primed your skin otherwise this will be very heavy and sit on the surface of your skin.
I find I can get a lovely finish with this if my foundation brush is wet with moisturiser/primer and I use a small amount to blend into the skin then build up if needed. I have also used a "Real Techniques" buffing brush to apply this which also worked well as it buffed it into the skin. I find the MAC colour choices for this more of a problem, the cool tones are a bit grey and the warm are a bit orange, I need to mix 2 together when I wear this. This is not my everyday foundation but I do wear it every now and then when I feel like a change or a different look. The art is mastering the application.
This was the worst thing I have ever used. It made my skin look and feel disgusting, produced the look of literally a million flakes all over my face (after moisturising and primer of course). This did not blend into the skin and just sat at the surface. It was not a soft cream product like the woman at mac explained, and even spraying fix+ on my brush would not help this dry, clay like substance. Once I applied this and attempted to make it work, in disgust I immediately removed it and had to start my whole routine over, completely having to skip any face makeup for the day. My skin was so parched due to this product. It was absolutely horrific and needless to say this went back to the store for a refund. If your skin is dry or combination, I highly suggest you skip this because it will exaggerate any slight dryness you may have. I actually do not recommend this product to anyone of any skin type.
as a foundation FOR ME it sucked! the coverage is full which i usually love but this was cakey. not only is it cakey but it made me break out :( in order to use it up since i bought it ..im using it as a concealor and it works..but i do it for everyday..if i want pictures taken, im probably gonna use another concealor like studio sculpt..
i wouldnt recomend it..
im a nc 42, brown hair.
Perfect combination of liquid and powder foundation! As other reviews have stated, less is more! I apply this foundation with my MAC 190 brush. I love the way it feels on my skin, and I am lucky enough that it doesn't break me out. I do like to set this foundation with the MAC careblend powder.
Less is more when it comes to this foundation. First time I applied it I looked like a guidette, I was orange and cakey! I'm an NC30. I applied too much product! You just need a small amount and blend it! Blend, blend, blend! It gives me a nice, medium coverage look. Doesn't break me out.
First off, let me say that less is definitely more with this product. When the SA made me up with this, I really liked the way it looked before she decided that although NW20 was a good match for me she added bronzer to match the tan on my arms. I think the NW20 is a tad light for me but it's workable. My skin felt really soft and I kept touching it. Being a longtime MMU user, I can't stand the way liquid foundation feels to the touch. Even though I'm normal skinned, liquid always feels either tacky or slick to the touch. So I figured I'd give a cream to powder a shot.
When I got home and put this on I couldn't get the smooth look she'd acheived and it felt greasy to the touch...ugh. After a few tries, I finally got it right. A little of this goes a long way. I use a foundation brush and just dabble it a little into the foundation. Maybe three passes does my whole face, then I run a buffing brush lightly around my face.. Looks smooth, feels smooth (not slick or greasy) and best of all, just looks like skin. I have normal skin so I don't use a powder on top of this.
If you have this and think it looks cakey, try cutting WAY back on the amount, definitely skip the sponge and use a "good" brush.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No


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Imagine J.K. Rowling pulling a Beyoncé and releasing another Harry Potter book at midnight on July 31 with no warning can you even imagine the chaos that would ensue
(via social-slutterfly)
"I don't get overly excited about firsts. First woman to do this, first gay person to do that, etc. Because when you think about it, we shouldn't still be having so many firsts. We should be running out of firsts. When I was a kid, I decided the next president should be African American and female. Several elections later that still hasn't happened. We need to push for change, we need to push to have less firsts, because no one should bat an eye over "Oh that person is special because they're black, asian, hispanic, gay, lesbian, transgendered, female, etc." These people should be special because they were the right person for the position, and until that happens, I'll be happy we conquered another first, but it's still not enough."
Single and ready to reply with sarcastic remarks to any form of affection because that's the only way I know how to mingle
(via luciferedpotatoes)
"Roam if you must, but come home when you've seen enough."
(Source: firstlinerhyme, via pearlsbourbonandwildcats)
sitting over here crying about how I am literally dumped right before formal with no back up date and my brother is still dealing with the loss of his best friend. Like why in the hell am I crying over stupid crap when others have it so much worse?
I guess I don't have a date to formal anymore, so this means I am the awkward third wheel sister in the corner by herself counting down the minutes until she can leave. Or I just beg for my money back and return my dress and sit at home hating my life.


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This SpringHill Suites is top notch. It has a modern, hip, clean feel to it. The beds are quite comfortable, and the overall feel to the room is spacious. The staff was also very helpful and friendly. Great location too - easily accessible from the interstate, within walking distance of the mall and restaurants.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- SpringHill Suites Sioux falls is new as of June 2008. With a modern new design, this hotel's guest rooms are 25% larger than a regular hotel room. Complimentary Breakfast, complimentary internet and 37 inch flat panel HDTV's in all rooms are a few of the amenities. With a fitness center, pool and a location adjacent to the Empire Mall, the SpringHill Suites is perfect for your families weekend getaway. Complimentary airport shuttle is also provided during certain hours. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Marriott, Priceline, Travelocity, Booking.com, Orbitz, Hotels.com, Odigeo and Tingo so you can book your SpringHill Suites Sioux Falls reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Springhill Suites Sioux Falls Hotel Sioux Falls


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this is honestly the best gif ever made.
this is honestly the best gif ever made.
Definitely one of the funniest things I have ever seen!
Easily one of the best videos by this guy yet. Awesome music too!
So I am using this new keyboard on my phone and it has these crazy prediction features. I wonder what it would look like if I just let it go to town on its own for a while…
"I have a ride there, Élyse's friend Hayley is with us she has a car. I just spoke to the UK. I have a ride there, Élyse's friend Hayley is with us she has a car. I just spoke to her. She is a good thing sometimes, I have my own. The only reason why I am a HUGE fan, but the government to the right to monitor the UK to the right to monitor all email. You will need the following link. It I am not a good idea. What is the most first to know that you are in a new few weeks ago, but it pays for a few minutes to get to know what to I expect you can see that it will want a lift. The only consolation, I am looking forward for your help and.. I have the link car hire rates, and ratings. I you have a any other person, and I was hoping you to be a spiritual, but it remains the same as for the first to review the new job!! I love the idea of building,. I am will be a problem. If the name resembles a bit. I don't have this information is.. I could have own home and abroad and then the next couple days ago save money. The only consolation the UK and Ireland and Wales with registered office address of the most popular and I am a HUGE fan of the most popular games and the drinks. Buy any of the opposite sex with someone who is a bit of a surprise. You can call her about it. She's out with the car. She'll be home in the UK. I have a ride there, Élyse."
….. Lolwatdafuq. Wow.
Accurate. ~_~;
I was having a conversation like this the other day with a friend,
I bought a Thor hammer from a toy store, and they were like, "What is that even called?" I replied, phonetically, "Mee 'ol neer."
They were like, "Spell it."
So I wrote it in Runes. Hahaha
This is awesome. I didn't even know it happened in a comic.


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this was once the george beynon farm! its a beautiful house, with a lot of land backed up onto it. this house was once for sale, but now it is in such bad condition that it will probably just be torn down. the house was probably a hoarder house, because there were boxes and boxes of random things.
i went a second time with marissa and giancarlo. the house was different, and new things were put inside including stacks of old books that were not there before. i think a squatter lives there...
Top 3 Things of Interest:
♡ squatter's setup
♡ hoarder room with ruined ceilings
♡ old 70s teen magazines
the attic
contact numbers of the area
marissa with the weapon we picked up from the front of the house to defend ourselves incase the squatter came back
little me


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Main Content
You exude confidence and class everywhere you go. Bring that chicness to the beach with the Lee Biarritz bathing suit bottoms from Billabong. Named after the gorgeous beaches of Biarritz, these bathing suit bottoms truly show off your elegant nature. They are simple black with a metal Billabong tag on the back, so they match nearly any top. These bathing suit bottoms are a perfect expression for your graceful character.
- 86% Nylon/14% Spandex
- Imported
- Metal Billabong emblem on back
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Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
Linux Kernel = $1.4 Billion
ROSE Blog: Rikki's Open Source Exchange
On her blog, Allison Randall discusses the updated Linux Foundation report, written by Amanda McPherson, Brian Proffitt, and Ron Hale-Evans, which estimates that the Linux kernel is currently worth about US$ 1.4 billion, and Fedora 9 is worth more than $10 billion.
Allison briefly explains the formula for the calculation and says, "One important perspective to carry away from this report is the astounding pace of Linux development." She points out that the Fedora distro is worth about 7 times what it was worth 6 years ago.
To read the full report, Estimating the Total Development Cost of a Linux Distribtution, visit: http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/estimatinglinux.phpcomments powered by Disqus
Issue 169/2014
Buy this issue as a PDF
Linus Addresses Criticism for Harsh Language
Kernel king admits his tone has alienated volunteers, but says the demands of the process require directness.
New SSL Attack Lets a Malicious Listener Steal Session Cookies
New flaw in an old encryption scheme leaves the experts scrambling to disable SSL 3
Leading Open Source Coder Rants about Rants
Lennart Poettering wants to change the way Linux developers talk to each other.
HP Splits into Two Companies
Enterprise giant frees itself from ink and home PCs (and visa versa).
Mozilla Labs Shuts Down
Mozilla's product think tank sinks silently into history.
Internet Giants Launch Collaboration to Improve Open Source
TODO group will focus on open source tools in large-scale environments.
Fedora Announces New Partition Manager App
New tool will look like GParted but support a wider range of storage technologies.
Mozilla Releases a New Firefox
New public key pinning feature will help prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
Tool Predicts Which Websites Will be Compromised
Carnegie Mellon researchers say 3 million pages could fall down the phishing hole in the next year.
SSH Key Management Guidelines
The US government rolls new best-practice rules for protecting SSH.


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The Bucks shot 57.1 percent from the floor Monday. Last Friday, the Mavericks shot 62.3 percent.
The Magic enter the Wells Fargo Center tonight having lost 16 straight road games. The Sixers have lost 10 straight on their home court.
Here is the matchup in 3-Dei:
The Sixers (15-42) will again attempt to snap their losing skid when they host the Orlando Magic (17-42) on Wednesday night.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CSN) at the Wells Fargo Center.


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Hang tight!
Recipe by hjbe
"Quick and easy way to use less expensive cuts of pork. Serve over brown rice."
Hmm. None of these ingredients are on sale today.
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1 (10.75 ounce) can
cream of mushroom soup
2 (1 ounce) packages
dry onion soup mix
6 fluid ounces
white wine
5 pounds
pork tenderloin tips
I didn't have the yogurt, but made the recipe faithfully. It cooked faster than I expected, and wasn't as tender as I was hoping. The flavor was good, but not fabulous. Like some of the other reviewers, I would love to see the gravy be thicker and the flavor just a bit more intense. The house smelled wonderful, though!
1 Rating
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Easy Pork Tenderloin Tips
Serving Size: 1/10 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 10
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 254
Calories from Fat: 65
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All the game-day eats you need to crush the tailgate competition.
This roast is simple to prepare, and impressive enough for the fanciest occasions
See how to make quick-and-easy pork tenderloin in your slow cooker.
Pork tenderloin roasted with firm fresh plums and caramelized onions.


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'RoboCop' lacks momentum (Movie Review)
"RoboCop"; Cast
The original Paul Verhoeven's "RoboCop" in 1987 was ahead of its times with its concept and presentation, while this one by Jose Padilha, literally and figuratively drags time.
A character-centric film of a half-man, half-machine enforcer of law, "RoboCop" delves in the transformation of a human being into an emotionless Robotic Killing Machine. The film portrays Robocop Alex Murphy's (Joel Kinnaman) attempt in cleaning up the city and then tuning his computerized memory on those who tried to kill him.
Set in Detroit, the film starts off with a critique of urban paranoia, "No policeman or armed personnel will die on his line of duty", being telecast on a television program called "The Novak Element", hosted by Pat Novak (Samuel L. Jackson).
He informs his audience that that the law-enforcement robots developed by Omnicorp, a premium tech company developing groundbreaking cybernetic implants for amputees as well as exo-skeletal suits are now being used in several countries except the US. To prove his point, he shows a live transmission of footage in what appears to be US-occupied Tehran.
Since the robots are illegal in the US and with the legislation divided over the issue of "putting the unfeeling machines in charge of life and death situations", the debate gets fuelled with a political satire and social commentary that takes place in Washington DC with Raymond Sellars (Michael Keaton), CEO and founder of Omnicorp, and Senator Hubert Dreyfus.
Meanwhile, policeman Alex Murphy along with his colleague Lewis (Michael K. Williams) is trying to bust a shadowy gun-smuggling ring. While in pursuit of the smugglers, Alex gets blown in a car bomb blast.
Sellars takes this opportunity to plead his case and with the aid and assistance of his Liz Kline (Jennifer Ehle) and marketing exec Tom Pope (Jay Baruchel), Sellars manages to coax one of OmniCorp's top scientists, Dr. Dennett Norton (Gary Oldman) to turn Murphy into a RoboCop.
What follows is the assembling of Alex. A lot of time is spent in elucidating the intricate detailing of him as RoboCop in a laboratory in China. An equal amount of time is spent in creating a fitting moment for him to escape from the lab. Furthermore, how his brain chemistry is tweaked by nightly doses of nutrients, anti-depressants and dopamine that drastically reduces his capacity for emotion and thus increases his effectiveness as a machine, are also detailed.
"Robocop" is totally Kinnaman's canvas. He as Alex Murphy is engaging and convincing. He manages to exude an absorbing blend both as a robot and a man. He captures different aspects of the character's journey with equal ease. His spontaneity is seen as a human cop, his restrained reactions are captured during the tortured and scarred experiment he is put through. Then the stoic expression as a soulless machine is conclusive.
Padilha and the screenwriting team have taken all the time to display "Robocop" with artistic flourish. With high-end production value, the visuals are sleek and richly hued. Cinematographer Lula Carvalho's images seamlessly merge with the computer generated images.
The set action sequences are far and few and the Robocop's bike chase seems more of a spool from the videogame version.
With a few jump cuts, the editing too is an issue especially the transmission of the Robocop from China to the US could lead to a confusing deduction.
Overall, despite brilliant performances, panache and style, this "RoboCop" lacks the momentum of a racy action that today's audience are expecting.
(Posted on 14-02-2014)
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Irsay tweets Manning still on 'active roster'
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay announced Peyton Manning is still on the active roster and there is an 'outside chance' of Manning returning in December.
Reports surfaced from several media outlets Monday morning that Irsay announced Manning would be out for the remainder of the 2011 season.
However, Irsay clarified the comments he made during a Super Bowl donor appreciation breakfast at the Chase Tower.
He released the following statement on his Twitter:
"I didn't say Peyton out 4season FOR SURE, keeping him on Active Roster n taking it month by month/Outside chance of return n December possible."
A spokesperson for the Indianapolis Colts told Fox59 there has been no change in Manning's physical status and he continues to heal.
Fox59 spoke with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was in Indianapolis for the breakfast.
"I'm not up to speed on Peyton's medical condition in detail," said Goodell. "That is something that the clubs keep between the player and their medical, so I wasn't aware of the condition. Obviously we all hope that Peyton will get healthy quickly and get a full recovery."Copyright © 2014, Sun Sentinel


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What more is your music other than ones patterns for associating notes.
What is your art aside from ones unique bonding of pigments.
What else is your moral besides the stringing of ideas.
What defines a scientist except how one ties theories.
What is ones writing but a distinguishable chaining of words.


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Hello guild. That's my newest map made with photoshop and wilbur. This time i use a fluidity filter on the shapes of my islands, hope you'll like it. fell free to criticize if things seems wrong, i'd like to improve myself
Last edited by Francissimo; 06-16-2014 at 09:11 AM.
My maps : http://www.cartographersguild.com/me...ollection.html
Forum Rules


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Dallas, Parenting, and The Most Important Lesson Learned It's amazing how watching a television show can trigger a flood of memories. Last night, I watched the revamped "Dallas" on TNT. I've got to tell you, I absolutely love the mix of new and old characters/actors. For those of you that don't know, the original "Dallas" was on the air for most of the 1980's. It was one of the first … [Read more...]
Parenting Tips From A Mom & Therapist: Praise, Punishment, & Sex Offenders
Some of you know that I used to be a mental health therapist before the big bad Multiple Sclerosis hit. I was in practice for over a decade and worked with many, many families. I am also a Mom. Between these two roles, there are a few things I have learned about parenting that I would like to share with you. Some of these tips may be common sense to you but to some people, they are not. Parenting … [Read more...]


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Apple Byte: What to expect at WWDC 14
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Apple Byte: What to expect at WWDC 146:32 /
We'll break everything you can expect to see at Apple's next keynote, but don't be let down if software is the focus. It's going to be a good one. Plus, our MacBook Pro case winners!
What's good, Brian Tong here to welcome the show for all the good and bad inside the world of Apple. And this week, it's all about what you can expect to see at WWDC 2014, just a few days before the big announcement. Alright, let's get to the show, and Apple officially announced they'll be making their WWDC keynote announcement available for the public to see with a live stream on Monday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time with exciting announcements. Now, June 2nd will also be the day that no works gets done. Now, Apple doesn't always do this, so consider it a treat. And you know CNET will have their signature pre-keynote and post-keynote coverage for all of Apple's announcements right here, so make sure to hang out with. Yours truly, and the rest of our crew, will be taking your live calls, live tweets, and we'll break it all down for you. Now, I think it's going to be a good one this year, so what should we realistically expect to see from the big A. Well, the Financial Times is reporting that Apple has been working on an IOS-controlled smart home automation platform that will be unveiled at WWDC. Now, remember, this conference is all about the developers and there's typically less of an emphasis on hardware. The platform would turn the iPhone into a remote control for your lights, your security system and other household appliances. Apple is one of the first retail stores to carry Phillips hue light bulbs. And the Nest thermostat that can both be controlled by your phone, but Apple's looking bigger to unveil a new central platform that will do it all with different devices. Now, the report says it will be similar to Apple's made for iPhone program that labelled speakers, headphones and accessories except this time it will apply to light bulbs, home appliances and more. But to bad they can't use the name iHome. Yeah, sorry taken by this guy. Now, if you have been following the show, we pretty much have kept you up to speed on what else to expect. But, just in case, Iowa State, code named Okimo, is expected to get a boat load of new features and all of this will point to the new hardware we can expect to see in the near future. Fitness and health tracking will get a big push with the health book application that is expected to aggregate health and fitness data from different apps and hardware all into one place. It'll be able to track anything from steps taken, calories burned, miles walked and even blood work details, like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Now, Maps will finally bring public transportation in an improved Maps with clear labeling and data that will be more reliable. But, I'll be the judge of that. We're also hoping to see voice over LTE become a standard part of the OS. Currently, many of the calls are sent over last gen's 3G network. But voice over LTE would bring significantly improved call quality. And if you've ever tried a FaceTime audio call, it sounds amazing with a good signal and that's really what we're missing. Alright, in the U.S., T-Mobile currently supports it while Verizon and AT&T are testing it out for a rollout later this year. We may or may not see this, depending on if the carriers are ready. And we'll be curious to hear anything about the new car play and what type of inter app integration we might see bridging third party apps to Apple's new platform. All right, OSX 10.10 is codenamed Syrah after the fine red wine, and reports from 9to5Mac said Jony Ive is leading a significant design overhaul. For OS X, and the new aesthetics will be the flagship feature Apple will be touting with the new look and feel across the OS. Expect it to be flat and white and hopefully they get rid of their, hypercolors. And what about Drake? Don't forget about Drake. [MUSIC] Apple confirmed the deal for three billion dollars with this nice picture. But, I don't know about you. I was just hoping that Tim Cook would be rockin' a big chain in this picture. And also, he's hiding something on his wrist. Now, WWDC could be the place to talk about the Apple [INAUDIBLE] vision for a music service, moving forward. But, let's also hope Dre does not perform on stage, because Kanye did that years ago, and everyone stayed seated and watched like it was an app demo. [MUSIC] Applause. It was embarrassing. Alright on to the hardware side. Like I said, we aren't expecting an iPhone or iWatch here. They could prove me wrong. But, WWDC has always been the place where new computer hardware has been announced in the past. Now, I expect we'll see new MacBook Pro Retinas with speed bumps at the very least. And the dark horse here could be the long-rumored 12 inch Retina display MacBook with the thinner design and an all new body. We just don't know this for sure yet. Also, iMac, Mac Minis, even the MacPro could be in the mix. [MUSIC]. For speed bumps and price drops, but, if not at WWDC, then, most likely, during the back to school season. And again, I know I still don't see an iWatch or an iPhone here. But the surprise could be the all new Apple TV. Because this is where developers are. And if they're going to open it up for more apps and games, this is the place to show it off. So, really, that's a lot of stuff packed into a two hour presentation. We have IOS 8, OS10, a possible home automation platform, new MAC with Pros, another way too long demo for the next Infinity Blade, yawn. Then there's a chance for speed, another MAC, and the possibility for the new Apple TV. It's more than enough to talk about all that WWDC2014 stuff until next week. But, there's a wrap up of what we expect here at the Apple [UNKNOWN]. Alright guys, let's get to our spec Macbook pro case giveaway. Last week we told you to decide if it was a good apple, or a bad apple for the Big A to take down the weed fern app. Now, a lot of you said it was bad because Apple wants to keep all the weed for themselves. Which is exactly what a pothead would say. So, congrats go out to our Apple byters on email. John Lezolday said bad apple because, What is Wiz Khalifa going to do in his free time? Terry Gong says: Good apple because weed is baddddddddd for anyone. And on Twitter, Daniel Yanis thinks it's a good apple, only because he likes the picture of the good apples we showed. And Abraham Namir says It's a Bad Apple since they just showed that they arte against high tech. Alright, congrats to all of you and we will be in touch, Keep sending me your emails to firstname.lastname@example.com or tweet @briantong so I can read them while I do my crunches. You know with summer coming up, I got to work on that. That's going to do it for this weeks show. We'll see you after WWDC 2014. And I'll catch you all next week for another bite of the apple.


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Mr. Kerrie Symmonds M.P
St. James Central
Kerrie Drurard Symmonds is an Attorney-at-Law who served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade. He was the youngest person to chair the Council for Trade and Economic Development, a group of CARICOM Ministers. His "Kerrie Care Development Programme" in St. James Central resulted in widespread road building and renewal, the introduction of Natural Gas and bus services to previously neglected areas, and the development of sporting and recreational facilities throughout the constituency. Kerrie is active in the community as an Executive Member of the Friends of St. James Central, is an honorary member of the Hoytes United Cricket Club and a member of the Rifle Club. He is an avid scuba diver, runner and a competitive dominoes player. He attends Hawthorne Methodist Church and is the father of a five year-old son, Kofi.
BLP Delivering for St. James Central
- Improved and added lighting to the playing field at Bagatelle, St. Thomas
- Established a pavilion at Hoytes Village
- Created two residential developments of over 40 units each at Arch Hall, St. Thomas and Hoytes New Development in St. James.
- Built 13 new roads across the constituency at Hoytes, Redman's Village, Seaview, Fitts Village and Holders Hill
- Installed Natural Gas at Seaview (Reeves Hill) and Redman's VIllage
- Started the "Kerrie Care Development Porgramme" that created jobs for people, fed the elderly, provided summer camps and improved economic opportunities across the constituency.
Our Vision for St. James Central
- To create a vendors mall at Redman's Village, St. Thomas
- To create a Community Resource Centre in Fitts Village
- To install lights and refurbish the Good Shepherd Playing Field
- To build a Community Resource Centre at Good Shepherd
- To create sporting facilities in Seaview
- To install a sidewalk from Reeves Hill to Holetown
- To create a Walk of Fame to celebrate the achievements of the constituency's athletes and sports persons.
Contact Kerrie Symmonds
Hoytes Village, St. James


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Restore skin's pH balance' close pores and prep skin for moisturizer or treatment with this gentle' fragrance-free' alcohol-free toner. Anti-aging antioxidants Pycnogenol® and Green Tea protect skin while you tone. Chamomile and Aloe calm and soothe skin. Ideal for those with sensitive skin or rosacea. Also recommended for anyone who is looking for a gentle yet effective toner that leaves skin calm' cool and refreshed without irritation. 100% vegan' cruelty-free' paraben-free' sulfate-free' mineral oil-free' lanolin-free' gluten free' GMO-free.
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Overall Rating for Soothing Toner 6 oz
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By Caroline
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Synonyms for habberton, john
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Each week heading up to the 2014 NFL Draft Just Blog Baby Podcast cohost Rory Anderson will be release a new version of his three round Mock Draft with comments from JBB editor Chase Ruttig.
#1 Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE S. Carolina
Rory's Take: The Texans owner has recently spoke glowingly about Clowney which gives me some incentive to start this mock off a little differently. As a football fan this would be a stunning combination and if they were able to stay together could go down as the best duo we have seen in a long time when you include JJ Watt.
Chase's Take: It is very much appearing that if the Houston Texans will be taking Clowney should they not draft a QB. Clowney might very well still be the best player in this draft regardless of position and new head coach Bill O'Brien might not be feeling Bridgewater like experts were earlier in the season.


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Last night in New York, Esquire won a James Beard Foundation Journalism Award, given out each year for excellence in food and drinks coverage. Our particular award was "Magazine Feature Writing with Recipes," for a collection of stories from the September 2009 issue, "How Men Eat." We are honored. Congratulations to all the winners, of whom you can see a complete list on the Beard Foundation Twitter Feed.
Tonight, the restaurant awards will be given out, so take a look at our predictions, too.
Follow Eat Like A Man Blog on RSS and on Twitter at @ESQFood.
This is a food blog for everyone, not just men. Even if you're not a man or you don't eat like one, we welcome you. It's just that there are foods that men love and there are ways that men eat that are just different, and we celebrate that. Every day, you'll find a mix of ideas, interviews, opinions, wisdom, tips, news, and recipes. For everybody. Especially men. And, very often, a drink.
What To Read Next


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As a bit of background, I will tell you why I started this little jaunt into expensive tubes. I have a set of wheels that are tubular tire specific and recently was forced to ride them for a month or so. I immediately asked myself why I do not ride them more often because they rode so nicely. When I say nicely, I mean that they stick to the road like glue, they roll like a clincher with 140 pounds per square inch (PSI), but they feel like riding on clinchers with 70 PSI (that is to say very soft and supple).
I do not want to stray on the topic of tubular vs. clincher. Keeping things simple, I will simplify and say that I attribute a large part of the difference (tubular vs. clincher) to tire casing quality and use of a latex bladder inside to keep air in (for most high quality tubulars). I can buy some pretty awesome quality clincher tires and narrow or eliminate the advantage between casings, but this study will focus on the other aspect (tubes).
For the purposes of this little study I will use the latest and supposedly greatest offering from Michelin (the Pro Race 3 Service Course). Yes, I know that many will point out that this is perhaps not the "awesome casing" that I alluded to earlier, but it is a casing that has worked well for me. It may not be nearly as supple as an "open" casing clincher, but it has performed much better than open casings have for me in that it lasts longer for my style of riding which does not include a lot of racing.
For those who are not familiar with the terminology, an "open" casing is one that has many if not all the qualities of a tubular casing except that it is left open and beads are installed for use as a clincher. Open casings carry a premium price and are optimized for racing and generally not well optimized for high mileage. The dollar per miles associated with open casings outweighs my priority for ride quality. I am interested in exploring if a 10-15 dollar increase in tubes will give me a economical improvement in ride quality.
So, for the purposes of my "study" all testing will be done on Michelin Pro Race 3 Service Course (PR3) tires. All noted differences will therefore be limited to what this tire constrains.
Cost differential:
Butyl tubes have increased in price remarkably over the past year. I will not get too deep into why, but it has to do with raw material prices, oil prices (which effect shipping cost), and the U.S. Dollar compared to the currencies in foreign markets where all tubes are produced. Yes, at this time, no bike tubes are manufactured in the United States.
I recall buying Kenda Butyl tubes for $1.99 each. A major online bike shop now list the least expensive butyl tubes for $5.99 and Latex tubes for $11.99.
Simple math shows us that twelve bucks is the financial penalty for trying latex tubes. Not really that bad if there is an improvement…especially if the improvement puts a larger-than-$12 smile on the rider's face. That is going to be tough to gage though.
On the Work Bench:
I will assume you have handled a butyl tube, so I will skip the description.
A latex tube is different in almost every way. First the color is a light green to aqua blue, and the tube has a generous coating of powder (perhaps talc). Secondly, the tube is very limp, not unlike an unrolled condom or a cooked noodle. The latex tube also has much greater elasticity in that you can easily stretch it and it springs back to its original shape (butyl will return but does so much more slowly). In a poor attempt to describe what I am talking about; If I were to try to fire a butyl tube like a rubber band it would probably go a third of the distance that a latex tube would go.
Another observation is the lack of seams in a latex tube. These things appear to be one continuous extrusion of latex tube that is joined near the valve (you can see this union in the photo). Perhaps this lack of seams and mold lines (that are always evident on butyl tubes) results in a more uniform texture that in turn allows the tire/tube system to behave more uniformly. I should point out that no tire is truly uniform either....they all have ply splices where continuous sheets of fabric must be joined together. However it seems logical that greater uniformity is better for reduction of rolling resistance.
Both latex and butyl tubes install about the same way. I would suggest using a generous coating of talc powder for either tube. Talc reduces friction between the tire casing and tube, this will allow for greater ride comfort. The friction reduction offered by talc also allows the tube to move around and distribute itself better during the initial inflation (if this does not happen, a tube can pinch, tear, and/or cause the bead to unseat catastrophically).
The latex tube, because of its wet noodle-ness was a little trickier to install (it almost "flows" as it falls out of the casing as you try to install it). If you need to change a flat on the roadside, butyl tubes will likely be a bit easier and therefore faster to install. I am not sure how happy a latex tube would be in a saddle bag or jersey pocket, but I have no reason to believe that it would have a shorter shelf life than a butyl tube as long as both are stored in a dry, dark, and cool place.
Anecdotal info: I have seen a demonstration where a tech places a business card between the tube and casing (lawn mower tire) and used the tire assembly for a week under normal conditions. After the week the tire was dis-mounted and the business card was partially shredded demonstrating the unexpected movement between a tube and casing. I have also observed tubes that were stuck to the casing as if vulcanized in place, while this may not be a bad thing, I can only assume that preventing motion between two components of the structure will result in more rigid structure…which is really what I want to avoid here.
Short Term:
Rumor has it that on a road bicycle tire (700c) latex tubes loose air faster than butyl tubes. Most normal butyl tubes I have used loose between 2 and 5 PSI from an inflation pressure of 100 PSI in a 24 hour period of time. In other words about a 2-5% decrease in daily pressure. Latex is said to be about double this, or 5-10% change in daily pressure. It has a lot to do with the thickness of the tube, generally a thicker tube will be heavier, but will loose air more slowly.
For the purposes of this test, I define "short term" as duration consistent with 50% or more of my ride durations. In 3 hours time there was no perceptible bleed down of air pressure. My gage is only sensitive to a change of 2 PSI, and my butt certainly can not discern a couple PSI after 3 hours in the saddle.
More Anecdotal Information: All air is not equal. Atmospheric air is about 78% nitrogen with most of the balance being oxygen. Both of those molecules are diatomic meaning that two atoms are present in every molecule (so the smallest particle of air we encounter most of the time is the size of two nitrogen (N) atoms, or two oxygen (O) atoms).
Who cares? Well, N2 is "bigger" than O2 with respect to permeability, so if you could inflate with pure nitrogen you will loose air slower. However, over time you will achieve a higher concentration of N2 in your tires as the O2 (and other) constituents preferentially bleed off and you replenish your tires to 100 PSI each day.
I do not want to get to far from home here with valence shells and bond shapes, but let's just say that there is a really good explanation for why a tire filled with a CO2 inflator will not hold pressure nearly as long as one filled with pure Nitrogen. Should you go out and pay for a fill up of pure nitrogen? Heck no! You will get nearly pure N2 in a few weeks time from daily replenishment of your tires with a standard floor pump for free!
I bring this up so that readers will understand the difficulty of comparing tubes based on pressure bleed rates*. A tire installed and filled months ago will actually bleed pressure 1% slower than one installed and filled today due to this nitrogen fractionation. Further, heed the advice of purging CO2 from your tires when you get home after an emergency roadside fill up. YOu should re-inflate a CO2 filled tire with a floor pump for best and most economical results.
* some riders state that their latex tubes bleed fast but they may be comparing a newly installed latex to a butyl that was on the bike for months prior (and therefore had a very heavy nitrogen fraction compared to the 78% nitrogen in the recent fill).
I will post a second part of this when I can give more long term observations. I hope to report on the ride qualities if they can be perceived. I hope to report nothing else, but as with many performance items there is a trade off somewhere, so I will report any I encounter. Yes, I am approaching this with hopes, but this approach is hardly *scientific* anyway.
I will however also share some scientific data that has been collected by others in this second installment. Racers tend to like any edge they can buy, and this may be a relatively cheap way to reduce rolling resistance. Stay tuned!
Click here for part 2.
I have been playing with latex now for a few days and several miles. I have but a few observations to share thus far.
The pressure loss over a 24 hour time span can not be ignored. Every day I inflate my tires to 115 PSI before I ride, and by the next day's ride, the pressure is down to 95 PSI.
I have no way to quantify this, but there is a distinct shock absorbing quality to this set up. I feel bumps of course, but the sharp "edges" of the bumps are greatly diminished, and the "buzz" of chip and seal is slightly muted. It seems to have an effect similar to lowering the operating pressure of the tires, and while the tires are losing air faster than with butyl tubes, the loss during the ride is not sufficient to describe the feeling.
I have really come to appreciate this set up in the curves. I find that I can really lean into the tire and carve the apex a lot harder and with far more confidence.
It could all be in my head, but even if it is...I am diggin' it.