More data is lost today because there is so much more data than MANKIND HAS EVER HAD BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR SPECIES.

If we lost as much data now as existed in the entire world during the time of the Library of Alexandria, it would hardly be noticeable.

People who talk about how computers are going to be the death of learning or are a menace to real human knowledge or all that other bullshit need something to explain to them the sheer fucking size of Wikipedia alone.

Some people with a certain degree of vision compare the internet to the printing press in terms of the long-term impact it will have on human civilization.  They are wrong.  The only thing that comes even close to representing the kind of innovation that the internet represents is not the development of the printing press, but the invention of the written word itself.


We live at the cusp of the greatest moment in human development since we came out of caves and into cities. So fuck off with the cynicism about floppy disks, you short-sighted cunts.

RPGPundit

Well, excuse me to talk about an issue that all the professionals of information and documentations have been concerned with for twenty or more years, Pundit. The issues of format, changes in technology and the durability of information over time is a REAL concern nobody gives a fuck about but the most informed professionals of the field.

I sure am not excluding some amazing technological advances that somehow solve these problems once and for all some time in our future, but if it weren't for people like us who actually do care about such issues in the first place, such future advances wouldn't have a chance in hell to ever take place.

So you fuck off with your blinded, one-dimensional faith in human progress.

I love both you guys. :D

Quote from: RPGPundit;413740More data is lost today because there is so much more data than MANKIND HAS EVER HAD BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR SPECIES.

What makes you think we are losing data?  

The low cost of scanners, the near-zero cost of memory and the million micro-niches of fandom pretty much guarrantee that everything ever published, coded or filmed will be with us into the future.  

As for faulty floppies, there are whole IT companies devoted to data retreival so if some great masterwork only exists on a single damaged floppy, we even have the tech to save some, most or all of it.

Quote from: RPGPundit;413740We live at the cusp of the greatest moment in human development since we came out of caves and into cities.

Maybe.

I can see the loss of net neutrality in the US derailing that progress.   Once that happens, the net-filtering by nations (for your own good!) will jump exponentially. Maybe that will just slow down the inevitable progress.  

Though, I am not entirely sure the web offers a greater increase in "human development" more than TV.   I see the web's potential for impact, but TV had phenomenal potential that was never realized as well.  

That said, I sympathize with those who mourn the passing of physical books.  As eReaders progress in the next decade, the next generation won't feel the same connection as we may have.

I miss album covers.  Record art was frequently awesome and that's gone in the age of iTunes.   However, I absolutely love my iPod and its easily my favorite piece of "new tech" that I own.

I love this site.

I'm glad I can make your day, Ben.

Quote from: Spinachcat;413777That said, I sympathize with those who mourn the passing of physical books.  As eReaders progress in the next decade, the next generation won't feel the same connection as we may have.

I miss album covers.  Record art was frequently awesome and that's gone in the age of iTunes.   However, I absolutely love my iPod and its easily my favorite piece of "new tech" that I own.

I never, ever purchase music from the apple store. I always buy CDs and load them up to the computer.

At some point in the future, iTunes files have to be purchased anew because they can only be uploaded to so many computers. Even if that's not the case, it would be easy for them all to get wiped. With a real cd you get an automatic hardcopy, all the albumn art, lyri, all that, plus you own something tangible. I won't ever buy electronic media as long as the real stuff is available.

The other issue with iTunes, what happens if Apple cancels it? Or makes iTunes2, where you have to rebuy all your music? CDs are pretty cheap these days, and I still buy them.

(Back on topic).

Wonder how many 4E players have already "burned out" on Heinsoo 4E, and 4E Essentials isn't doing much of anything to spark up or revive interest.

Back in the 3.5E D&D era, I didn't burn out on 3.5E until towards the end (ie. early-2008).


At this point, 4E Encounters and 4E Essentials isn't reviving much interest for me whatsoever.  Just two years of playing 4E D&D on and off, and it's already burning out for me.

Wonder how many other 4E players are in such a situation.

What's wrong with going off topic when it's obvious our fearless leader has something to say?

*I would invoke the ire...if I felt like it*

Quote from: ggroy;414059Back in the 3.5E D&D era, I didn't burn out on 3.5E until towards the end (ie. early-2008).

Probably this would deserve his own thread, but II usually don't burn-out on games, but on narrative/character ideas. Then, that 3.5E still gives me an idea a minute for sure helps.

Quote from: Nightfall;414070What's wrong with going off topic when it's obvious our fearless leader has something to say?

*I would invoke the ire...if I felt like it*

Nothing, but it is also good for the topic to continue to vaguely resemble the actual subject at the top of the thread.

Occasional deviations are allowed (and not just if started by me) but generally speaking if a sidetrack in the thread really starts to take off, it might be a better idea to start new threads about the new subjects.

Except with stuff like the two "Forge closes" threads. Those are just beautiful clusterfucks and no one was really expecting anything less.

RPGPundit

(Back on topic)

If you're interested in an OD&D game (as the OP says), there is a lot of material on the net for the early editions. New stuff. The difficulty is that you've got to change the mental default away from the game store and onto the internet.

For OD&D specifically, take a look at the Swords & Wizardry material from Brave Halfling and from Frog God Games (direct sellers). Also take a look at Fight On! magazine and Land of NOD (both on Lulu.com). Check out Knockspell Magazine (currently being sold by Black Blade Publishing).

If you expand the desired level of compatibility to AD&D, look at Expeditious Retreat Press (the code-word for AD&D is "OSRIC"), look at the Footprints magazine (free) from Dragonsfoot. Lots of material is out there for the obtaining, much of it free, much of it for sale.