Charlie Wiederhold
01-21-06, 11:39 PM
This coming Sunday (Jan 29th) is the 10th anniversary of Duke 3D shareware. I'm holding a trivia game in the GiS forums (http://www.gamingisstupid.com/forums/) in celebration covering questions about Duke 3D history, as well as the online community around Duke 3D through the years. I'll be offering some prizes to the people that get the most questions right. The prizes will all be signed by people relevant to the item. These include: DNF, Prey (PC), Max Payne (PC), Duke Atomic, Shadow Warrior, and a couple original Duke 3D Mouse Pads. The DNF and Prey items clearly will be sent when the titles are actually complete, and the people who win those two will also get something else that will be sent with the items already out. If for some reason I can't get something signed in a reasonable manner (such as Max Payne or Prey), I'll replace it with something else.
I'm warning you though; it will require some pretty hardcore knowledge of the old school Duke 3D days. :) The first person to post the right answer in the thread will get credit for the question, and some questions will be scored higher than others. I'm not sure how many questions there will be total yet. Clearly you are free to look things up (how could you be stopped?) but the advantage goes to people who know information already.
I spent January 29th, 1996 sitting in the University of Texas UGL library waiting for the demo to be released so I could put up a mirror on my webpage (WiederWeb). It was a memorable day, and one that wound up changing my life. Duke 3D is what led me towards becoming a game developer instead of a corporate programmer. :)
100
I finished reading Fingerprints of the Gods (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517887290/qid=1137909953/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5133305-8857560?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) (please read my commentary on this below) and Three Billion New Capitalists (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465062814/sr=1-1/qid=1137910016/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5133305-8857560?%5Fencoding=UTF8), as well as Book #1 of The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0740748475/qid=1137910042/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-5133305-8857560?s=books&v=glance&n=283155). I'm on to Book #2 of C&H, The Creature from Jekyll Island (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0912986212/qid=1137910094/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-5133305-8857560?s=books&v=glance&n=283155), and The Shield of Achilles (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375412921/104-5133305-8857560?v=glance&n=283155). I only wish my enjoyment of history coupled with current events had started earlier, but it took some life experiences to fully appreciate the value in regards to me as an individual in the first place. I'm glad I haven't reached the point in my life where I'm simply focused on maintaining my current perspectives, and will continue working to ensure it never comes. Challenging what you think you know is one of the most fulfilling endeavors I feel can be taken... provided you aren't afraid to be wrong and willing to change.
Over the last year I’ve completely lost the ability to listen to Democrats (http://americablog.blogspot.com/) or Republicans (http://www.redstate.com/) (and the media/internet extensions thereof)... as well as anyone who identifies themselves as either. Both sides are so stuck in their constant barrage that nobody is actually paying attention to the issues affecting their daily activities and future opportunities. The population in the middle is kept transfixed on "scandals" that ultimately don't matter to their lives. The only commentary I can read without the knot in my stomach growing tighter comes from those who refuse to attach themselves to ANY party or movement at all, and instead just wish to focus on each issue independently. Unfortunately, these are few and far between and thus there is no choice but to read both sides and attempt to find reality somewhere in the middle.
The only honest way of participating in a democratic system is being capable of voting for anyone.
It is beyond irrational for a person with no political career to "be" a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Reform, or any other party member. These parties are entities in and of themselves and will do what is necessary for the success of the Party. It is impossible for the party to adhere to your values at all times, and over the years the values of these parties change. Since most people have no political career (and thus in modern times have no need to band together for coordination and funding purposes), there is NO reason to "be" anything. Each time they go vote, it should be an entirely new process and the candidates should be judged based upon what they say. Veterans should be judged based on what they have done as well.
The party of a candidate should not affect a voter. Ever.
Unfortunately, most people are too busy to do enough research to understand the issues or the candidate’s abilities vs. rhetoric. Therefore they vote for "The Party", lazily discarding their responsibility in the process and hoping it is "close enough".
There is so much turmoil (http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_05/petrov011606pv.html) bubbling under the surface (http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article339928.ece) these days, especially in the financial world (http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/schiff/2006/0113.html). Other than momentary flashes it is drowned out by the Battle of Pettysburg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Abramoff) being fought in the media and over the water cooler (http://cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/2000/schindler_WMD_092200.htm). I just hope we can finish this game before another 1970's period kicks in (and if all we get is a repeat of the 1970's we'll be lucky). Video games are highly sensitive to disposable income, and it would be an awful kick in the nuts to finish it, have it be everything we want, with only a small portion of the audience with enough extra income to enjoy it.
I need to start keeping a notebook or voice recorder around, as I have a hard time transferring my thoughts and observations into written form. I have a great deal of respect for the talented writers who can contemplate a subject matter and find the way to express the results of their contemplations for others to read.
I'm warning you though; it will require some pretty hardcore knowledge of the old school Duke 3D days. :) The first person to post the right answer in the thread will get credit for the question, and some questions will be scored higher than others. I'm not sure how many questions there will be total yet. Clearly you are free to look things up (how could you be stopped?) but the advantage goes to people who know information already.
I spent January 29th, 1996 sitting in the University of Texas UGL library waiting for the demo to be released so I could put up a mirror on my webpage (WiederWeb). It was a memorable day, and one that wound up changing my life. Duke 3D is what led me towards becoming a game developer instead of a corporate programmer. :)
100
I finished reading Fingerprints of the Gods (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517887290/qid=1137909953/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5133305-8857560?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) (please read my commentary on this below) and Three Billion New Capitalists (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465062814/sr=1-1/qid=1137910016/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5133305-8857560?%5Fencoding=UTF8), as well as Book #1 of The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0740748475/qid=1137910042/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-5133305-8857560?s=books&v=glance&n=283155). I'm on to Book #2 of C&H, The Creature from Jekyll Island (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0912986212/qid=1137910094/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-5133305-8857560?s=books&v=glance&n=283155), and The Shield of Achilles (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375412921/104-5133305-8857560?v=glance&n=283155). I only wish my enjoyment of history coupled with current events had started earlier, but it took some life experiences to fully appreciate the value in regards to me as an individual in the first place. I'm glad I haven't reached the point in my life where I'm simply focused on maintaining my current perspectives, and will continue working to ensure it never comes. Challenging what you think you know is one of the most fulfilling endeavors I feel can be taken... provided you aren't afraid to be wrong and willing to change.
Over the last year I’ve completely lost the ability to listen to Democrats (http://americablog.blogspot.com/) or Republicans (http://www.redstate.com/) (and the media/internet extensions thereof)... as well as anyone who identifies themselves as either. Both sides are so stuck in their constant barrage that nobody is actually paying attention to the issues affecting their daily activities and future opportunities. The population in the middle is kept transfixed on "scandals" that ultimately don't matter to their lives. The only commentary I can read without the knot in my stomach growing tighter comes from those who refuse to attach themselves to ANY party or movement at all, and instead just wish to focus on each issue independently. Unfortunately, these are few and far between and thus there is no choice but to read both sides and attempt to find reality somewhere in the middle.
The only honest way of participating in a democratic system is being capable of voting for anyone.
It is beyond irrational for a person with no political career to "be" a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Reform, or any other party member. These parties are entities in and of themselves and will do what is necessary for the success of the Party. It is impossible for the party to adhere to your values at all times, and over the years the values of these parties change. Since most people have no political career (and thus in modern times have no need to band together for coordination and funding purposes), there is NO reason to "be" anything. Each time they go vote, it should be an entirely new process and the candidates should be judged based upon what they say. Veterans should be judged based on what they have done as well.
The party of a candidate should not affect a voter. Ever.
Unfortunately, most people are too busy to do enough research to understand the issues or the candidate’s abilities vs. rhetoric. Therefore they vote for "The Party", lazily discarding their responsibility in the process and hoping it is "close enough".
There is so much turmoil (http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_05/petrov011606pv.html) bubbling under the surface (http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article339928.ece) these days, especially in the financial world (http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/schiff/2006/0113.html). Other than momentary flashes it is drowned out by the Battle of Pettysburg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Abramoff) being fought in the media and over the water cooler (http://cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/2000/schindler_WMD_092200.htm). I just hope we can finish this game before another 1970's period kicks in (and if all we get is a repeat of the 1970's we'll be lucky). Video games are highly sensitive to disposable income, and it would be an awful kick in the nuts to finish it, have it be everything we want, with only a small portion of the audience with enough extra income to enjoy it.
I need to start keeping a notebook or voice recorder around, as I have a hard time transferring my thoughts and observations into written form. I have a great deal of respect for the talented writers who can contemplate a subject matter and find the way to express the results of their contemplations for others to read.