MariosInferno

You must have played a different Blue Shift...

"umm... i think you forgetting it backwards. Purchasing, raw materials, sub-components these are all contracted out. If company X wants to provide part Z for Ford, then they have to participate in Fords RFP for said part. The company with the best proposal gets the contract. If company X charges too much, company Y will step in and replace them. "

Well, that's a very rosey view of how things work. Ford Gm and Chrysler all handle their suppliers in the same manner. The finance guys get them into a room and beat the hell out of them for a lower price. This is fact. There's cost savings goals to meet. This is done, in lieu of, bringing suppliers into their factories and searching for higher levels of integration and greater savings....all because they may pay more up front. As do Toyota and Honda...there's a greater level of accountability in the supply chain. The Big 3's supplier relationships are terrible and unproductive. They'll beat a supplier up for a lower price on a part and the next year the supplier stops making it and developes a new version. Time to renegotiate...all your savings dissappeared. It's bad for the industry as a whole.

The shear amount of part #s that the Big 3 has is another problem. Wasteful engineering. Even though it's getting better, the amount of commonalities in the vehicles is no wheres near where it needs to be at right now. It's unfortunate that this is only NOW starting to be taken seriously and gaining traction...it's a long road. When Toyota releases a new vehicle, it's 85% (maybe more) old and common components under a new shell.

In all honesty, materials are something that's a bit out of their control. They don't control the price of oil, or steel, etc. These higher prices are impacting Toyota and Honda all the same. The Big 3, with lower volumes and a stagnant cost structure, are simply in NO position to weather the storm. And, now that no one is buying cars, the position is critical.

"Now which one sounds like it is going to create more long-term problems for the Auto manufacturers?"

Everything I've sited here is a tremendous long-term problem. I simply choose to worry less about the unions because I know there's more real savings to these companies in the areas I've mentioned. Again, given the ability to make immediate and sweeping changes, the unions are the last place I'd go to get cost out of the system.

The sorry thing is that labor costs are NOT the GM, Ford and Chrysler's biggest problem. It's just the easiest one to poke at...

Engineering, purchasing, raw materials. There's your targets. The couple hundred million they'll save from canning the job's bank is nothing compared to the billions in wastfullness in those shops.

Involuntarily separate Justin McElroy!!!

It's a good game so far. Let me prephas this with the fact that I'm a huge Silent Hill slappy, so, I only want to talk about my gripes.

1. The combat is MUCH easier. So much so, that it's a little disappointing. Locking on, combos, dodging...all cool additions, but, again, it's made the game feel much easier. 2 and 3 always had this sense of helplesness. Let's be honest, you weren't gonna fight Pyramid Head with the combat knife in SH2. Things just wouldn't go well for you, haha. There was always a feeling that I should run my ass off for just about every encounter. And that added to the atmosphere of the game. You were at a disadvantage and it felt like it. That feeling is not gone, but, let's just say...I plan on starting over and playing the game on hard.

2. Graphically, I think I was expecting a bit more. It's still by far the best looking SH game yet, but it could have used an extra coat of polish. Textures are the weakest point.

Other than that, it's been extremely solid. IMO, best since SH2, so far. All the aspects that a Silent Hill fan is looking for are intact.

Nahh...this is just the direction certain developers are choosing to go.

It doesn't cost $22M to make a good game. I'll take the margins Retro has reaped on Metroid Prime 3 any day of the week over Cytek's, which I assure you are slim.

But, whatever...this is what Crytek does. It's a risky game though...one flop can leave a developer hurtin'.

Well, I think the Wii can do without any more shovelware.

"So am I the only one who thinks that Nintendo's offerings have been totally lackluster this gen compared to what we're used to."

For the most part, yes.

John, quit being a twit. The fact that Nintendo has already released Zelda, Mario, Mario Kart, Brawl and Metroid IS in fact them appealing to their core. Don't lump WiiFIt into that group.

"Keep wearing your blinders. Zealot"

What's funny is that I recongnize the Wii has more to offer than Carnival Games and Wii Sports, but, you're right, I'm the one wearing blinders. To you, it's a casual box, to that...Nintendo appreciates your business...as do the fine folks at Endust.