heyo..

as mentioned above.. specs not out yet.  so as a consideration to you, the correct answer is to not give one until the specs are known, as they can be misleading.

with that..

the asus g74sx (bbk7) is a great machine for the price.. especially for best buy.  that gun should have no issues running metro 2033 or crysis on med/high.  those two games are used often as BM's.  And with that there simply is no mmo that runs to those standards currently aside from maybe AoC on ultra, which this system would easily handle.

so i'll put it this way.. IF it were me buying that lappy for GW2.. I would have no worries what so ever that it could handle anything GW2 could afford much less any game in the next couple of years..ie.  Rage, BF3, Diablo 3 (lol i know wishfull thinking).. ect. on at least Med/high if not ultra, especially the low fat mmo's.

i think your fine.  whats more important is Asus RMA and Best buy warranty to back you up just incase.. and yes.  purchase the add on warranty with BB.

just my opinion

d

heyo.. :)

given the information on your system that you have described.. and that you have a 400w psu and the overall age of system, i would probably shy away from most newer "upper end" vid cards simply in that most will require a dual ac connect AND you simply do not have enough power to keep things smooth.

now without going into the wallet for a new system (which i can recommend you one should you like.  just bought a third box for around 800$ that is simply divine for the price point) ,  i will leave you with a decent review/comparison that should help a great deal.

also be aware that this card only requires one ac  plug and can handle (though barely) your psu.  have fun reading :)

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/10/12/amd_ati_radeon_hd_5770_5750_review/1

cheers

d

heyo..

thought i would chime a bit here.  out of the two choices you list.. it would most definate be the 6870.  this coming from an NVidia fan for as many years as they have been around. 

with the research you have done you should recognize that the 4 series cards have had a great deal of issues with overheating.  this with laptop as well as desktop rigs.  and while its somewhat easy to remedy the heating problems with a desktop. there is no way (if it were me) that I would risk any type of heat up with a laptop.   the 4's run way to fat and performance means little if the card is hot to begin with.

now i realize alienware is THE name in gaming rigs to the normal consumer and you did mention you live in Canada?  so I will plug a laptop for you that you should be able to get.  Maybe not.  It doesn't say Alienware on it and doesnt look like a porche.  But it is quite the beast.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152266&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

if anything you can use that as an example of what is possible for the price point.  again.. NOT trying to shove it down your throat.

I own 2 aliens myself.. and they are a decent product, but pricey as all hell.

hope this helps some..

cheers

d

heyo..
 
and when done with that.. the damage control vs mob thread :)

http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=1536065&page=1

cheers.
d

yup.

This is very big.   As in, mmo history made big.  SWG Nge is a good example.  But depending on what is said, how it is said and who says it.  CCP could stand to lose more than just subs.  The whole defining culture of EvE online was it's connection between community and CCP/Devs.   The concept that CCP has a bond and/or trust with its player base, is/was paramount and a defining foundation by which the "big guns" could learn from.  A true indie success story based on the respect both given and recieved.   This is not Soe nested with several working IP's (at the time of SWG Nge),  with hundreds of thousands of players.  This is one company, with grass roots, working on the dev of two incomplete possible futures, relying on one IP to sustain thier existence in the current and next possible future.

All one has to do is go to the Eve forums and read the 75+ pages (as of this post) in less than 4 hours of very angry, very upset and betrayed felt subscribers.  NOT specific to CQ's, or monicles, or station/sytem lag, cpu/gpu overheating and all the other less driving anger bits.. but more specific the "leaked" comments from a pdf/newsletter/ect. that suggest just how little certain lead devs feel about the community that supports thier interest and the possible fleecing of said support.

I realize that Penn and couple other internal staffers are trying to initiate some damage control.  But at this point .. they need to let aware the community they are reading and understand the communities anger.. and just shut... up.  At this point and time, the only person that will make the waters calm will be none other than Hilmir or of that caliber.

As a long time player and supporter of Eve I am very upset about the decsisions made with the last update.  MT is a slippery slope no matter how you look at it.. as far as I am concerened.  I can honestly say "in my opinion",  this is as close as a company like CCP can get to spiraling out of control.  They need to be honest and lose the spin.

going to be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of days.

cheers

d

edit:  my appologies.  63 pages, 1889 replies, 5 hours. atp.

welcome back cpt.

ship logs are up to date.. engineers report all systems go.. a case of quafe is in cold storage as you ordered.  weapons are loaded.

:)

all you need now is a pizza or some chinese to GO! 

have fun

d

yeah yeah...

China called.. they want thier wall back.

cheers

d

Originally posted by Romik

I have tried the trial of this game a few times and it actually got to a point where I bought this game and played it a couple of months. The game is awesome but each time I played it I felt I was ripped off. Why?

First, with the timed skill system you can "incubate" your character for a year or so and then come back fully skilled, which is essentially the same as buying all skills with a one year shipping and handling fee. Shouldn't you be enjoying development of your character through an in game progression curve and not through a timed sequence somewhere on the side?

Second, the monthly fee is a rip off staring me right in the face. I guess they tried to hide the fact with those neat expansions. I don't know the exact statistics but I'm pretty sure that in bandwidth this game compares to tile based mmos like runescape. Except, runescape is only 6$ a month, no initial cost and enjoyed a countless number of expansions so far. 8$/month is the max I would give EVE in light of the fact that there is more graphic art involved.

I feel this game could be so much more thanks to its sandbox architecture which demands more player input. But for now fee-sensitive gamers like me will just stay away.

hey there champ.

Just wanted to say ty for taking the time to write this up.  Was having an awkward day and this post allowed me a good laugh.  :)  But seriously.. a couple things to note.

1.  Probably not a good idea to title your post with a blanket statement.  maybe put (IMO) or (opinion) or something to that nature before or after.  You see, there are many folks out there that would respect your opinion and be willing to "discuss" said opinion if presented in such a manner.   Instead, all your title does with EvE players, within an EvE dedicated forum, is create conflict.  Which if intended, has somewhat been successful.

2.  I am having a hard time wrapping my head around what exactly the msg is your trying to convey.  All I undestand thus far is that you played for a couple months (that alone speaks volumes), that you don't appreciate the skill train system, (which is unique to EvE and to many EvE players, including myself, a strong point), and some gibberish about "bandwidth", that , honestly my friend, makes little to no sense when compared to completely different platforms.. ie.  what you used as examples, Runescape (lol) and WoW (played off and on since closed b) .  Maybe find a decent comparison as a foundation for this argument please.  For a single sharded core, I would argue your "bandwidth" statement had it merit.  But it does not.

3. Lets talk about greed shall we?  Key word "relative".  The first question that comes to mind for me is, how many other premium mmo's allow for thier players to puchase sub time with ingame rewards, dedication, or intelligent research.  Now all three are important here, because typically the first ignorant response is.  "sure, i can plex my sub if I spend 12 hours a day grinding isk"..  ugh.  soo typical.  Yup, you can grind L4 missions for your isk.  You can also, through time, dedicate your efforts through play, corp, market or scam to pay for that PLEX,  You could also, research the best way to train the skills necessary to have your isk make more isk by playing the market, R&D mechanics, Ship collecting (not as much anymore), being a runner, offering your services as a merc for hire or dare I say using online tools to find the best place to employ manufacturing.  The point here is.. CCP has implemented a way for the player to use ingame virtual currency to surplant real world subscription fees.  This is hardly a "greedy" act.  Now whether the player has the motivation, resources, time or commitment to take upon themselves to excersise this option... well.. keyword.  relative.  Personally, I find EvE's "value" is not in what I pay each month (close to six years now) but the piece of mind knowing that I don't have to.

AND with that.. lets go back to skills.

4.  EvE is THE definition of "casual play".   Why?  Because I don't have to play the game to advance my core abilities.. but, (wait for it) I have to play the game to advance in it (by cultivating personal experience).  Eve is not about your shiny skills budds.  Its about community.  Its about risk vs reward, its about accountability for your actions (something that is sorely missing in most all mmo's today)  It's about the time you take to work with your corp, study NPC AI, ship builds, market flux, scanning local, staying safe in null or finding your prey in null.. its about PLAYING the game that makes you accomplished,   Training skills only allow you a medium by which to do all those things.  Unlike your examples where you have to focus on playing the game to advance your skills.. in EvE, you have to focus on just.. playing the game.  Another point worth mentioning is that I pay 15$ a month to know that I can put a month train on a skill and take a trip to Europe with my friends.  I can que a few skills and focus on my family, business, ducati bike rides, horses, fishing, kite flying.. or whatever the hell I want,, and not be obligated to grind levels for that next subset of skills that I have to pay for with xp.  Sounds like a win for me.  Piece of mind this "casual"  PS.. I don't think I've actually paid for my sub for the better part of 2 years now.. maybe once in awhile.. :)  Now, I could see your argument if CCP (ad in cash shop) made you pay for each individual skill?  Or maybe had a fleet of cash shop ships?  Use your imagination on this one.

5. "but for now, fee-sensitive players like me will just stay away"  Good!  :)  No offense friend, but that statement could read as.. "but for now, lazy, unwilling to research, want everything handed to me on a silver drake, fee-snsitive .. ect ect"  And keep in mind that is just a lil jab joke.. nothing personal.  The bottom line here is that EvE is kinda like the ol days of mmo's.  Dedication is paramount, you have to "earn" your place in space.  Cultivate your name, reputation and respect.  There is no "elite"  there is only I salvage your ship or you salvage mine.. and redemption.  The relationships you make in EvE can form or create recognizable history within EvE itself, MOo, BoB ... as examples.  Trust is valuable commodity and breaking of trust can have consequences.  Nothing about ANY mmo out today (side for a couple old timers still around) allows for this type of immersion.  You can thank CCP for that. 

I would hardly call that.. "greedy"

cheers!

good luck with your next mmo, and ty for playing EvE online.

D 

Originally posted by Nevulus

Wooooo that Ducatti is sexy...........

I gotta stay faithful to my Gixxer 750 though. Knee-dropper for life, MMoer second.

 fine choice indeed.

have a drained and unplugged 89 gsxr limited and 92 slingshot stored ina sea crate :)  countless good rides on suzuki.  one of my all time favs.

better to sweat than bleed.

cheers

d

easy.
996, 999s and this be the 848 on a trip to Vegas.

no game, no woman, not much of anything really, comes before my Ducs.
 
cheers
be safe
d

Originally posted by kattehus

Originally posted by Doven

hellos..

 

looking for a trial.. pm me if you have one available.

 

ty

d

PM sent.

 reply sent.. ty

d

hellos..

looking for a trial.. pm me if you have one available.

ty

d

Originally posted by fyerwall

Originally posted by Doven

ha!   mousepad?

 

I tell ya what... you switch the pad for an authenticator... and you have one sold.  Mousepad...   what you flip it over and you see a gecko with Geico  in big blue letters?   Nothing but a free pen in my opinion.

The rest is just "fluff"..  give me the shwag I can USE.  Blizz up and down advocates authenticators yet they cant include one with this release.  Makes little sense. 

The music cd would be all I would be interested in.. if that.

boooo!

d 

 

I mean hell, if anything, dont include the actual authenticator in the CE, but rather a Blizzard Card that you can redeem for one. That way if you already have one, you can gift the card to a friend.

THIS^^

So brilliant this idea.  Not only does it help Blizz by eliminating restored accnt hassles.. it PROMOTES thier enthusiasm for players to get on board with the program should they not have one. 

smart reply.

d

ha!   mousepad?

I tell ya what... you switch the pad for an authenticator... and you have one sold.  Mousepad...   what you flip it over and you see a gecko with Geico  in big blue letters?   Nothing but a free pen in my opinion.

The rest is just "fluff"..  give me the shwag I can USE.  Blizz up and down advocates authenticators yet they cant include one with this release.  Makes little sense. 

The music cd would be all I would be interested in.. if that.

boooo!

d 

howdy.

lurker since 02-03?  can't remember.  member since 04.

cheers.

Originally posted by Vinterkrig

shouldn't you be progressing in eve or something? you fail on many occasions in this thread lumps 

 :)

I highly doubt (aside from skill progression) that this... "lumps",  would progress at all in EvE.  This is the type of self centered, ego best player (not to be confused with elitest), that ends up in his own little low sec pocket calling himself king.    A Null sec corp would most likely alt grief him just for fun to see how far he would rage.  His own mouth would destroy his prospects for future null sec corps, as "adaptation" is the KEY player skill that EvE requires to be .... accepted, respected and admired.  Not how many times you call someone nub, noob, ignoramous or any of the other punk rebukes his ignorance projects.

his forum name couldn't be more appropriate.

also note that DF is more a "twitch" based model, where as EvE is more that of cooperative stradegy model.  Key word=cooperative. (as far as PvP is concerned)  So far all this twit has been spewing off is how much DF has turned to bad because HE, (and he alone) can no longer excersise the great skill he supposedly posseses.  

thanks for the laugh cowboy.

gl with EvE,  (your nothing but food for intelligent pilots)  but most likely you'll end up with Silk Road Online.

D

heh..

Yes,   I just posted some feedback in thier forums dedicated cash shop feedback thread in ref, to shutting the cs down until the problem is rectified..

I didn't break the threads rules, nor did I break the forums rules for posting in any way.  The intent was to suggest that if the current cash shop items are out of balance with the communities opinion, and that there is a clear motivation to rectify the problem,  as well as still being in OB (considered a testing phase), that maybe it would be a good idea to take the cs offline until a solution is created.

lol.. deleted. 

posted a question as to why, stating no rules or guidlines had been breached..

deleted.

:)   It is clear to me that they have no intention of doing a damn thing.  And also clear to me, they could care less about my "feedback" as it is not inline with generating money.   Say one thing, delete another.

this could just be that needle.

d

Originally posted by Terranah

See, I think the biggest failure is not knowing your market.  If someone is hardcore enough to spend 7000 dollars for some runes, chances are they probably don't work and therefore don't have that kind of money.  I have a very good job...but I'd rather tack on $3000 dollars to that and buy another rental property,  but that's me.

 

I'm not opposed to buying stuff in an item shop if it appeals to me.  So far nothing has, but if it does I will definitely buy something, just not at ridiculous prices.  I could see buying something at $1, 5, or maybe 10 dollars.  After that, I have lost interest and start disliking the company.

I agree with this..

I am retired, invested, and have disposable income.  I have spent monies on cash shops, though not to the extent of some.  I have no issues spending money on cash shops either if the game is decent and has a decent community.  Do my part to help the game grow.  Or at least think I do.  But this is a personal example:

When Allod's opened up the cs and I looked at the 20$ bag upgrade.. (only six slots mind you, 18 slots to 24), I thought to myself.. man this is a bit steep, but I assumed it was account wide.  It wasn't.. thats 20$ PER character.  I enjoy playing alts/different classes to break up the monotony of one class.  In CB, I rolled all classes and decided four for OB.. thats 80 bucks to equip upgrades.. JUST for bags.  lol.. um no. 

dislike for me is an understatement.

d

At Allod's blatent money grab..?

I am a snob and proud of it.

d

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by brostyn

I have zero problems with cash shops. I've bought plenty of stuff from DDO cash shop, and EQ marketplace.

I'm not even going to look at Allod's. Like I said in another thread; gpotato = A bunch of goons from Korea who think Americans are nothing but lazy fat cats with HUGE wallets. Sorry to disappointment the world, but Americans struggle financially, too.

The problem seems more to be that they also thinks that yanks are totally retarded because only a 100% idiot would pay 7K for a in game item. Already $700 is ridiculous.
 

DDO understands this, if you have stuff at good prices people who is already buying stuff will throw in a few extra items when they are shopping, kinda like buying a candy bar or a magazine when you go out to buy milk. As soon as stuff gets to expensive people will plan things carefully. And as soon as things pass expensive they will either quit the game or ignore the shop.

It is not as virtual items actually costs money (after you made the item mind you) so they should put the price that will maximize player numbers and profit. Turbine knows this and so does all successful F2P MMO while Gpotato seems clueless. 

Good points indeed...

I would like to chime as well that DDO , charges for convenience.  As in, you could grind 90-100% of the lock out, or spend 20 bucks to unlock the content faster.. this gives the player OPTIONS based on THIER time and finance.  The only imbelishment to balance with DDO is purchasing pots in lieu of stradegy play to get to that rest stone, or simply ignore it completely.

Cash shop games that DO have engame pvp are a HUGE money sink to be competitive, is correctly stated.  These greedy bastages know this.  And most experienced ftp players know this as well, it's the unsuspecting that has to reach endgame then look back at the great amount of time they invested and feel pressure to buy to remain viable.  It IS a cash trap.  Oh wait.. but its a free to play game.  The difference between DDO and Allod's, JD and many others, is that convenience sells better than balance.

d