napster + seven years after = ?

Response to Grade 10 Journal Entry Question: How Napster Changed the WORLD?

Napster was infamous at the beginning of the new millenium because it offered an easy way to get music. It was this very application that opened up the world to illegal downloading that still continues on up until now. Napster was a prime example and one of the pioneers of a more general public-initiated P2P (peer-to-peer) online music downloading.

Of course, Napster didn't begin illegal downloading. In fact, it had existed for many years through sources such as IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channels. Napster brought a simple user interface to the art (if you can call illegal downloading an art, anyways) that didn't involve complex commands to get music. But of course, from Napster spawned more P2P applications, as well as the awareness of general Internet users and record labels of the situation.

Napster was originally created to help distribute music digitally, and record labels paid no attention to the matter until it began to affect their revenue. In fact, I think it triggered the whole market for pirated music in a reverse effect. Record companies can't stop music pirating 100% because of applications such as Napster - take a look at programs such as KaZaA and Gnutella that also aided in the deterioration of legal music distribution. There really hasn't been a victory in online downloading, although people have the option of paying for their music to support the artists. Some artists find online music distribution as a great way to market themselves; others find it as a vehicle to take away their income if their CD's get bootlegged.

And it's not just affecting record companies - look at all the music stores that are suffering. It's rare to find record stores without DVD's or games to help their income these days. Online music distribution doesn't only have an effect on record label executives or music artists, but also normal people that run stores filled with CD's. I recall walking down the Danforth and seeing an old specialty record store that was selling off all their CD's, in hopes of converting to a vinyl-only shop. I saw a frown appear on the owner's face as a customer said, "It's cool, I already downloaded like, half the album." People have to accomodate digital downloading now, and it's definitely taking a toll on buyers and sellers alike.

Don Dodge's article had given me the message that we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves when dealing with technology. Napster had grown so quickly that it has taken a huge bite out of the music record industry, and has affected our methods of getting music drastically. We don't need to go out to buy a CD to get the album you're really anticipating - just point and click and you've got all the tracks on your computer. Instead, we should anticipate what needs to be done, the effects that our solution may have, and to conduct many trials before releasing a final product. Trial-and-error production methods are much better than trial-and-error in the real world, in my opinion.

The bottom line? Napster, thanks for revolutionizing music distribution as we know it.

wii... would like to clarify.

Response to Generic Journal Entry Question: Are Wii the Children of the Revolution?

The Nintendo Wii, better known as the motion sensor gaming wonder. We've grown accustomed to Nintendo's past releases - namely that of the GameBoy and many other gaming consoles, as well as its multitude of characters and merchandise (can you say Mario?). What could possibly be so special about this, you ask? I'm seeing a whole different side to this story.

Not every family is interested in a good old game of Monopoly anymore, and that the Wii brings a more digital and fun method of gaming for everyone. But are any of its methods particularly new? I don't think so. The physical gameplay aspect of the Wii is definitely something that's been around for a while: think DDR. Motion sensor games such as ParaParaParadise (check Pacific Mall - it's hard to miss para-dancers when you're going down the escalator) have also been around for a good seven years now. Speaking of which, the neglected PlayStation EyeToy was also brought to my attention. The game variety could've been just as extensive as the Wii's collection, had the EyeToy been more popular and had better sensors. I personally perceive the Wii as a combination of gaming technology that we've all seen over the past 10 years.

I do have a lot of respect for the Wii because of its unique gameplay. It's a different combination of motion sensors as well as your imagination taking shape through the controller. But I wouldn't call it "revolutionary" just yet - while the Wii is a spectacular device, I don't believe that it will transform our society into a congregation of gamers. Not everyone will be totally entranced by the Wii, although it is a thought. Digital gaming is appealing for the younger generation as well as some of their parents.

As a game system, Wii is definitely a top contender with a concept of introducing a gamer's imagination to a console that can truly deliver past button-mashing. But I'm not personally ready to call it a revolutionary device, because there's aspects to the Wii that have been scattered throughout the gaming industry for years.

this is what happens when you've got bonnie pink on repeat, a bad vector job and extra stock photos to spare.



namely, the stock is a photo i took in july 06 on a trip to new york city. my cousin brought me to a humble port in brooklyn, almost underneath the brooklyn bridge and has one of the best views of the nyc skyline in town.

enjoy :)