Gotta question for you all. I am trying to define the western computer rpg in my head by companies that currently (or used) make them. The obvious starters are

Interplay

Bioware

Bethesda

SSI

Mindcraft

The last one might really test your crpg chops. Anyhow, I want to extend the list. Got suggestions? Remember, western crpgs. No Square Enix.

Edit: adding and manipulating the list a little

Interplay -> Interplay/Black Isle (by suggestion of Frame_Dragger)

Blizzard (courtesy of polsci1503)

Obsidian (courtesy of AlmightyMax, interesting because their business is almost entirely based on Interplay's and Bethesda's products)

Wizards of the Coast (as much as I hate mentioning them)

Origin (courtesy of luc11044)

iTunes didn't mix well with Windows 7 once I changed some visual settings. It isn't a major issue. Simply plugging in my iPod does turn on iTunes now. I read some boards on this and a lot of people are making it out to be the end of the world: "Oh no! I have to click twice on an icon now!" Also, I had to deauthorize and authorize the computer again after some settings changes. Still, this doesn't seem like a major problem. I get the impression that the next update of iTunes will overcome these issues. Also, Oblivion seems slightly more unstable than before. That's hard to measure though. Don't really know if it's Windows, a corrupted file, the result of playing an Elder Scrolls game for a few more hours, or the mods I am currently using.

Noticed something nice though. By default, Windows asks before installing updates. It's like having a brutal blood-thirsty dictator who always wears soft fuzzy gloves. I noticed something else too. Windows now seems to come with Windows anytime upgrade which is mentioned in a number of places. Evidently, they really want me to upgrade to the very best Windows available. I don't really know what that means however. Finally, I still haven't even seen anything referencing IE, which I am just fine with. Perhaps M$ has come to accept that IE will never, ever go anywhere.

A friend of mine saw my commentary on installing windows and sent me a link to Penny Arcade. I know. I hardly have to link Penny Arcade in this forum but it seemed particularly fitting. Still, I am reserving judgement on Windows 7. I did find one bit of evil. It killed my boot-loader. It was an easy fix though. The linux install disk had a easy restore already built in. No having to reinstall Ubuntu.

So this is wierd. I installed Windows 7 and I have this odd feeling. It's almost like it made me a little bit happy. Is this the result of pathetically low expectations? Has my general dislike for Mac-bots disillusioned me such that I can put up with Windows? Has the lack of hardware support in linux (through no fault of it's own) finally gotten me? Or is it the feeling that finaly, the one operating system that really plays games well is finally catching on to what people want? It's a wierd feeling...