What is Adat?

[Dark Jaguar]

http://whatisadat.org/

I saw this odd commercial that looked like some weird therapy commercial. However, it was just odd enough to get my interest. It seemed like some advertisement for getting meaning in your life or something.

Well, check this site out and tell me exactly what you think it's about.

I'm just shocked these people actually managed to get the money to advertise this on "the TV".

Who do we know that has the money to advertise on TV and is known for ridiculous and undiscernable fake web sites?

[Smoke]

WTF?!

Whois

When you try and purchase the DVDs you get this page.

[Great Rumbler]

It's gotta be Nintendo. It has to be.

[Great Rumbler]

Nevermind, it's all just an advertisement for some thing called GameTap, that lets you play arcade and console games on your PC.

[Dark Jaguar]

Yeah... disappointing really. I was sort of hoping it was some ridiculous double pronged yet super obscure ad for the revolution controller, targetted specifically at their core demographic, Tendocity. However, I didn't see enough evidence to make that connection.

Well, anyway, now that the truth is out, I still have to wonder how these people managed to get ahold of the money to take out a TV ad. Also, I really have to wonder why anyone would even bother with such a device. What exactly does this do that some emulator or TV tuner card wouldn't?

[Great Rumbler]

Apparently it's backed by Turner Broadcasting, which owns Cartoon Network.

ATLANTA - April 27, 2005 - Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), a Time Warner company, today unveiled GameTap, a first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network that offers games-on-demand plus original programming via a broadband connected PC. GameTap launches fall 2005.

"Turner's lifeblood is creating branded networks and we are excited about the opportunity to create an immersive environment for games following our success with other branded environments like CNN, TCM and Cartoon Network," said Andrew T. Heller, president of domestic distribution for TBS, Inc. "With GameTap, we are bringing to games what we brought to cable television: compelling, branded environments where beloved properties live on."

For GameTap, Turner has licensed nearly 1,000 games from 17 publishers. The service will launch with 300, and then roll out new titles and programming each week. Programming is created expressly for GameTap -- coming attractions and behind-the-scenes peeks that introduce the games and provide background information.

"With GameTap, Turner fills a need in the industry for a viable post-retail sales channel for games," said Dennis Quinn, executive vice president of business development, TBS, Inc. "We're taking publishers' time-honored content and re-packaging it for new and existing audiences."

GameTap provides subscribers an "all-you-can-play" gaming service accessible from up to two household computers. To access GameTap, players securely download and install Turner-developed client software from http://www.gametap.com that acts as a gateway to the GameTap library. Because games reside securely on the PC, not across a network, they act just as if they were still on the console or at the arcade. Fast response times, 3D effects, colors, and characters are all present and accounted for. GameTap supports navigation and game play using both keyboard and mouse, as well as most USB peripherals.

http://www.gametap.com/press/index.html

[A Black Falcon]

I think I heard of this.

[Dark Jaguar]

Oh, OH! That's what this is. Basically, single player games you have to pay a monthly fee for.

Hmm...

Unless it is absolutely needed to maintain a monthly fee and use online access for something, I would prefer it if it was not required.

By the same token, I have a problem with anything that expires more quickly by DESIGN just to get me to have to artificially continue to pay for something that should work forever. For example, those old DIVX players.

I also take issue with companies that cripple computer hardware in a purely artificial way, like just the software "locking out" certain parts of the hardware. For example, when ATI was making cheaper versions of their video cards that were exactly the same except the driver was programmed to run it worse by doing things like closing pipes off.

Basically, I consider pretty much all of that disingenuous.

But this is a bit different. It's more or less a rental service if you ask me, only instead of snail mail, it's pretty much right there. However, it's still a rental service in my eyes. It has about as much interest to me as the Sega channel. Oh wait, did I point out the fact that this isn't entirely original? Sorry.

Anyway, no thanks. I'm all for downloading games instead of going to the store, but once I download it, I want to own.

[Geno]

From what I've seen on the commercials, they help you find a third dimension. They never explain what they mean by that metaphor, so... I am not compelled to try their service, and therefore their advertising tactics have not worked on me. They should work on it.

[Dark Jaguar]

I am not compelled to do much of anything regrading commercials. Generally I tune them out, but this was like first outta da gate during one break and it was just too confusing, so I became intrigued. I'm afraid this may become a future marketting method designed specifically to target people who like to solve confusing stuff.

[Geno]

I am compelled to buy stuff simply because I saw it advertised. I shall now buy a Coca Cola based solely on the fact that I saw someone drink it in a movie.

Yeah, the confusion advertisement method thing works better. Though maybe one day advertisements will come in our dreams, like on Futurama.

[Great Rumbler]

I don't like the idea of buying games from an online server and having them all stored there. I'd rather have an actual cartridge or disc in my hand.

[Geno]

Yeah, me too. (Though I have been known to download ROMs.)

...

I'm hoping the FBI isn't monitoring this board.

[A Black Falcon]

Free makes up for the fact that you don't have the real media... but yeah, I definitely greatly prefer having the actual game media, and do for all the games I've purchased. Revolution, of course, will have downloadable games you have to pay for and don't get game media for... I know I'll buy some anyway, though. Especially if they're (or rather, if some of them are) upgraded... :)

[Smoke]

Yeah, me too. (Though I have been known to download ROMs.)

...

I'm hoping the FBI isn't monitoring this board.

Don't worry, they're too busy with the war on porn.

[Dark Jaguar]

It's time for The Standing Up Sound!

http://geddupmix.ytmnd.com/

[Dark Jaguar]

Advertisements won't be coming in our dreams any time soon, simply because the energy required to actually affect our brains would also disrupt our brains completely.

So, the second they try it, we get fried.

[Geno]

Don't worry, they're too busy with the war on porn.

Hurray! *downloads a bunch of video games, songs, movies, and software illegally while the FBI is busy smiting nipples from Jr.'s monitor*

[A Black Falcon]

Plenty of people have gotten in trouble for sharing things, but I'm not sure if I've ever heard of someone getting in trouble for just downloading...

[Geno]

Yeah, I don't let other download my files, I immediately move anything I download into another folder. (The My Music folder in My Documents, to be precise. Or the My Videos folder, which I made myself.) I don't download heavily either.