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Heather Kelly, one of the developers on a panel on Monday asked a great question about game development that she hoped researchers could help answer: Why does money trump everything? The answer lies in the remarkably good 'fit' between the market and code, and in the existence of a lot of well-trained people who can find ways to exploit it. 

I submit for your comments the idea that the reason many developers have a hard time finding anything of value not only from researchers, but often from their own players, is that they are, in effect, seeing a different world, all the timeAn optimistic disposition -- a faith, even -- in technology and code-based problem solving runs deep in the technology and software development community (see, for example, Gary Lee Downey's ethnography of CAD/CAM engineering, The Machine in Me), and it hampers developers' ability to recognize the range of content and community creation (very broadly defined) by users as well as the fruits of the well-established but different methodologies and concepts of researchers

I don't flirt, or try to produce any sexual vibes..I *do* tend to refer to myself using feminine terms (ie: "I'm your girl" instead of "I'm your boy" when agreeing to help someone)."

u c I've been pondering my relative lostness in WoW vs Guild Wars and SWGIt seems that lostness for me depends on the kind of mapping information I'm given by the system

WoW gives me very littleA big map with my location and the location of others in my group, and if you have installed CPmod reminders of other locations and mouse over co-ordsThere is also one of those little compass like on-screen maps of what's around meBut this gives me little information, the character types and skills that I have don't add much info

Album Description

Grammy award-winning artist Nelly breaks four years of silence with straight hand-to-mic combat on his fifth studio album Brass Knuckles

The StLouis rapper has sold 30 million albums to date -- and he's approaching his upcoming release with renewed intensity"When you're the champion you have to psyche yourself into thinking you're the underdog, even if people don't see you as that," Nelly confesses"Nobody going to give you anything, you got to work hard for what you want You got to continue to press."

Nelly makes his statement in the form of brass-tacks vocal tracks, dance floor anthems and suggestive, seductive slow jamsA master at dynamic collaborations, he's assembled a cast of all-stars to collaborate including Usher, Pharrell, Akon, Ciara, Chuck D, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Ashanti, Avery Storm and the StLunatics"When you hear the energy change, or the tempo switches to a nice flow, it means something," he saysNelly shows his versatility spitting rhymes with deep, percussive flow, and then switching it up to sing over soulful hooks

Party People: The first single, "Party People," pairs him with FergieIt's a raucous attention getter, laying the foundation for what's to come - the party is in full swing"People wonder why I keep the clubs jammingYou can't make a club song if you don't go to the clubsPeople always think I'm going out partying, but what I'm doing is seeing what the DJ is spinningI want to hear and see what's the next thing."

Let It Go: Nelly gets dirty, Derrty style, with Pharrell on vocals over the Neptunes' crackly beats

Self Esteem: The vibe changes with "Self Esteem," a fluid, inspirational track featuring Chuck D about staying true in the face of struggle, such as a soldier serving in an unjust war"There are so many obstacles in life to overcome and as soon as you jump over one, there come another oneBut we got to be strong and stay strong."

"My all time favorite collaboration is with Chuck DI heard the track and did the song and I felt something was missing." Public Enemy's "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" ran through his head"Before Chuck even heard the song, he was like, I'll do itThat felt so good to me, that he trusted meHe knew that I wouldn't bring him no messThat's Public Enemy, that's our CNN of hip hop."

Long Night: Nelly smoothes it out with Usher on "Long Night" -- an intricate musical cut, stacked with thick harmonies"Sometimes you do songs with R &B artists and you do your verse, and they sing the hook but this one wasn't like thatThis one, we're into the song."

Stepped on My J'z: The signature Nelly song featuring Jermaine Dupri and Ciara pays ode to the classic Jordan sneakers"Shoes are a part of the hip-hop cultureI love my J'sI grew up in that eraI'm part of the reason why Jordan's don't come out on the weekday no moreI used to cut school to get a pair of the new joints"

The time away from the spotlight has been wrought with life lessons for Nelly, balancing the personal and the public, with the loss of his sister Jackie in 2005 after a long struggle with leukemia"That's the biggest thing to ever happen in my lifeThat was my heartEverybody deals with pain differentlyI am not one that's going to sit in the room and sulkNo one can harm me worse than I can harm myself It put me in a different place, but it put me in a better placeI see what is nowIt's really simpleIt's your familyIt's your kidsIt's the charitable work that you do It's keeping it real with yourself."

While some would've thrown in the towel, Nelly never strayed far from the studio and he continued to grow his business ventures -- the Apple Bottom brand, Skybox a new StLouis Sports Bar and part ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats -- and philanthropic work through his charities 4 Sho 4 Kids and Jes Us 4 Jackie

Nelly is a man about his businessAn award-winning artist who's up for the challenge, primed for battle .....here we go, round five with Brass Knuckles - ding ding.