Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) The Argumentative Git thread

don't hate them. do ignore them mostly though. had more than enough at school. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

went into a bookshop once and it was either geek stuff, murder stories, kids books, snobby stuff (glossy or lit) and sort of 'crap sellkwik' topic of the week junk. nothing much for me.

its games, the net and the odd mag for me. for now anyway. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

You forgot Food. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> There's always yards of yuppie cookbooks and food worship tomes. And maybe a Sport section, and a Travel one.

I have a weakness for Reference books too. Nice fat volumes full of quotes, facts, figures, maps, charts, diagrams or whatever. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" />

I'm going through a bit of a book renaissance at the moment, after a few years of spending most of my book budget on computer games. Games are great, but the stories are usually pretty poor and repetitive. Same old, same old, same old.

I'd love to buy an RPG with some really great writing and story lines, but the genre seems to be getting a bit tired in that area, and heading more for hack and slash. (Please employ Plowking somebody!!)

For a while there I bought no new books but simply re-started at the beginning of my bookshelves and read them again. As I have many hundreds of books I can do this without getting bored by over-frequent repeats. But I've now got a large collection of games too, so I'm pretty much in the position where I can work my way through the best of the collection again. Most of the recent ones I bought just have better graphics and/or sound, but the gameplay/fun factor doesn't seem to have moved forward much.

So it's back to buying books. Don't give up on bookshops completely Koz, there could be something in there for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

just remembered that i did buy a book. its a workshop manual for a car. does that count? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Absolutely! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> You might call it a reference book too, so Hakea should be impressed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

Actually, it's a pretty good example of an area in which traditional books are being replaced. The workshop manual for the car I have is now supplied to the dealer network either online or on a CDrom. No more grubby oil-stained paper manual to thumb through, and it also has the advantage of being able to easily search for what you want.

I suppose if the mechanic needs a particular section or diagram they can always print a page out.

I can see quite a few traditional book functions being taken over by electronic versions in that way. We have a nice set of old encyclopaedias in the lounge room, but they've dated fairly quickly. Even the information about country borders and names is out of date now. So I use the internet and CDs for much of my info these days. Of course you need to be careful about the sources you believe, but books aren't always 100% accurate either. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Electronic books?

I've seen reports that research work is being done on various types of 'reading tablet' that would aim for a look and feel somewhat like a convention book, but which could upload different titles. I suppose a memory of some kind and the ability to display a single page would be enough. But it would probably have to feel "booklike" enough to win over conventional book lovers.

I also seem to remember talk of 'electronic paper' which I think was some sort of plastic film that could display type that could be erased and replaced. I think the idea was to stay even closer to a traditional book.

Perhaps this might open more possibilities for "interactive fiction" with the reader taking a small part in the narrative (rather like with games) and either influencing the outcome, or at least feeling involved to some degree?

Would you welcome such developments or resist them?

I've already got a few books on CDrom, so we're part of the way there. They are not as comfortable to read as a regular book - at least not for long.

I would guess there's a few things to iron out yet, such as:

A) Making a 'reader' that's cheap enough, light enough and robust enough to compete with a traditional book for ease and comfort of use.

B) Sorting out the copyright and protection issues. The CDrom I have is a collection of "500 Classic Works of Literature" - in other words 500 out of copyright texts. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Printed books and software are currently dealt with in 2 completely different ways. Teachers who buy books don't expect to have to buy a site licence to read the same book to several classes of kids for instance. Books are freely lent in libraries (which even provide photocopiers to make it easy to duplicate the bits you want. There is supposed to be a page limit per book, but I've never seen it enforced). Unlike books, End User Licence Agreements for software usually seeks to prevent hiring, multiple usage, second hand sales, and even (in some instances) giving it away. Completely different from the way we view books.

Publishers would not want electronic books to be easily copied, pirated, swapped etc so I expect we'll have all the same clumsy copy protection issues to deal with that crop up with games. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

Didn't Stephen King try selling a book over the internet, downloadable chapter by chapter? Did I read somewhere that he abandoned part way through? Anyone remember that?

Some interesting potential though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

if they put mags and stuff on electronic readers i think they'd need some pretty cool extra feature if they were going to catch on. if someone in my group of mates buys a mag it gets read by quite a few people, passed round, dropped, scrunched, snipped up and then often lost. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

a reader sounds more like a one person only deal. maybe a toy for people with suits and briefcases. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I guess you have a point there. But I don't own a suit or a briefcase and I reckon that I might just be interested in some sort of booklike 'reader'. If they could get the pricing and portability right, I might go for something that could hold, maybe, a bunch of reference books and a novel or two.

Seems to be just Aussies here today - are we the only people left in the world who read books or think they're worth discussing? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Did everybody else stop using them years ago and not tell us?.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

well i will be interested in reading electronic books when all Plato's dialog will be available in this support in bilingual version with the ancient greek text... not before...
and yet i fear it will be still more hard to read than the paper version...

Okok - I out myself as a book-reading dinosaur. Why?

1. Opening a novel book is like an invitation into a world of imagination and wonders. The author is the guide, I'm the follower. Opening a non-fiction book is like entering a fountain of knowledge. I drink it up

2. I like the smell of paper very much. Though... I prefer the vanilla scent of books out of the 50es and very much older (the nice yellow ones)

3. Lying on a couch and delving into this paper world belongs together for me - a print out or reading via monitor is not the same for me.

4. Having a whole pile of books waiting to be read by myself gives me the feeling of being very very rich.

5. If I feel sad, bad or am tired and fed-up I have my list of favourite novels to go into, over and over again. So, for an island => I'd take a lot of Pratchett books with me, not to forget my Asterix comics. Why? I love the humour in both series, they cheer me up. I know passages by heart that help me - I quote them often. When it comes to non-fiction books => gee, too many to fit into a suitcase, as I'm interested in a lot of fields. In fact, I own more non-fiction than novels.

And i agree with Kiya 100% on every single point she has typed out, books are definetly underrated! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

I am not entering another time it was like too much hard work <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> however I feel I should make 1 thing known, which I am sure all good readers have heard before, and I believe it was Benjamin Franklin or Abraham Lincoln who said;
A book is your passport to the world <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Aaahh! Another book sniffer... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" />

Old books have a particular smell too. The oldest book I have was printed in London in 1765. By a nice coincidence it's called "A System of Divinity"! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Unfortunately, it's a very dull collection of people rambling on about religion - not a manual for a Game Engine Tool Set. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Not alot of fun to read - but it certainly does smell great!

Hakea, and I thought I was the only one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />
Kiya <not feeling so alone anymore>

I prefer to read books myself via ink and pen whilst upon my lap.

Reading e-books simply makes my eyes go bonkers and the cozy fire tends to ring havoc upon my computer vs. the simple Stephen R. Donaldson books I love most to read. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Kyra_Ny <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

Cool another Thomas the Unbeliever Fan Yay!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

FYI: He's working on a Third Triology as we speak. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Kyra_Ny <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

Although possible, I'd find it quite absurd holding a Laptop computer in one hand whilst reciting William Shakespeare, practicing a stage play.

No, I believe the pen and ink paper book would still be a much better choice.

Kyra_Ny <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

well well well.. all that is good and nice... but
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepey.gif" alt="" />

we are accomplying nothing than agreeing each with the others and congratulating each others as in a TV show...

is that an argumentative thread? or the previous duel between me and kyra has wasted all your strength...????

ok, i retract my first post i had to be drunk when i was writting it...

the ultimate truth is: all books should be burnt...
we will begin with Carson McCullers (as she loved music) and then...
well it will be a real Autodafe... trust me!!!

edit: the "we" is you and me when i will have converted you!!!
even Kiya <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />... i hope so <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />

No, no, no!!!!!

No burn the books!!!

Oh, there are so many books I wish I could have read and I could have if it hadn't been for book burnings and fires.

Oh, so many beautiful one of a kind single master piece books, works of art they are, lost due to being burnt.

Burning a book, especially a one of a kind, even if it was scanned into a digital image, would be heresy!!!

It would be like burning the paintings of Fitzgerald or Goya!
Just because they are scanned into some web page.
Books are art too!

I've read the scanned works of "Henry Cornelius Agrippa" and "John Baptista Porta" and I've read the actual books themselves in my hands. The art work put into the lettering of its print and the scent of the old book was Magick itself.
I've never gotten that feeling from an e-book.

Oh, it would break my heart to see such things...the burning of books.

@ MASTER_GUROTH: I know you are only trying to be a stinker here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Kyra_Ny <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />