That Club is Mine...

... that goddamned club is mine.

Fi at my place, Fiday night, 8.30ish.

These week we're going with a We Hate Sony theme which we'll demonstrate by playing with our PSPs, in front of my 32" Sony TV and maybe we'll put some music on the Sony stereo.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

(or Lay Off The Fucking Whammy Bar)

Haven't seen anyone post a Final and complete setlist for Guitar Hero 2, so there's one.

Also, here's a list of the 'hidden' tracks, via 1 up

The Acrobrats -- Laughtrack

All That Remains -- Six

The Amazing Royal Crowns -- Mr. Fix-It

Anarchy Club -- Collide

Artillery -- One For The Road

Bang Camaro -- Push Push (Lady Lightning)

Brian Kahanek -- Gemini

Buckethead -- Jordan

Count Zero -- Radium Eyes

Dethklok -- THUNDERHORSE

Drist -- Arterial Black

Every Time I Die -- The New Black

Freezepop -- Less Talk More Rokk

Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives -- Soy Bomb

The Last Vegas -- Raw Dog

Made in Mexico -- Yes We Can

Megasus -- Red Lottery

The Neighborhoods -- Parasite

Shadows Fall -- The Light That Blinds

Strong Bad -- Trogdor

That Handsome Devil -- Elephant Bones

Vagiant -- FTK

Valient Thorr -- Fall of Pangea

Voivod -- X-Stream

Trogdor? Yeah!

Looks like a nicely rounded list this time with some more excellent tracks. I can't wait to play along with War Pigs and Monkey Wrench.

Oh My God, They Killed Lik Sang...

Those bastards.

Sony take yet another giant leap backwards in a year of terrible PR with the news that they've managed to cause fantastic online retailer Lik Sang to shut down.

Last week Sony commenced legal proceedings against the company, seeking to prevent them from selling PSPs, games and accessories to the UK and EU. Presumably this was a pre-emptive strike to prevent them doing the same for PS3 as I cannot see any real reason for attempting to stop PSP sales after all this time.

Apparently Sony are doing this for our own good:

A Sony spokesperson declined to comment directly on the lawsuit against Lik-Sang, but recently went on to tell Gamesindustry.biz that "ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not - in PS3's case - backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software; will not play European Blu-Ray movies or DVDs; and will not be covered by warranty".

Gee, thanks Sony... I'm completely unable to look after myself in matters relating to technology, as are, I expect, most of Lik Sang's customers who bother to import expensive electronic equipment from Japan and Hong Kong.

CGW Back Issues Online

Second link from Waxy Links. Computer Gaming World have opened up their archive of back issues from 1981 to 1992 in pdf format. I wonder how they'll view on a phone?

Did he say "missile raining deathcoptor?"!!!11!

Scott Sharkey from over at 1Up (*sings* I don' wanna go to work today...) has had a good old go at the multiplayer version of Vice City Stories. Chekthizshittout:

All the modes from Liberty City Stories are back, with some new additions and a few changes; First, races now incorporate a Quadathlon mode where players will be switching vehicles several times over the course of the race, going from cars to boats to choppers on the way to the finish line. Also, Survivor mode now allows teammates to pile into the same vehicle, aiding in drive-bys or just making it easier to get around.

Sounds good? T'aint nuthin':

Our favorite new mode so far, however, has to be Hunter, which is a bit similar to the golden gun mode in GoldenEye, except in this case the golden gun is an attack chopper. Up to six players compete for the possession of one missile raining deathcopter. Helicopter deprived players score no points for murdering each other, though sometimes it's strategically beneficial to do so. Instead, points are earned by shooting pitiful groundlings with your Hunter, or by taking down whatever lucky player is first to find and commandeer the chopper. Players are aided somewhat by the fact that everyone starts off with an RPG and an AK-47. You can use any other weapons you find, of course, but taking the sucker on with say, a melee weapon probably won't work out.

Personally, we think any player who manages to punch a helicopter to death deserves an automatic win, as well as anything the other players have in their pockets.

And the best bit?

Look for Vice City Stories in stores in a little over a week.

You can bet I will, Scott. You fscking knows it.

NDSVisuals - VJ mxing with DS

In the first of a couple of stories culled from Andy Baio's Waxy links here's some DS homebrew called NDSVisuals. Use the wireless functionality of your DS and the touchscreen to do live mixing of video on a PC. Written as a student project at the University Of Applied Science Hagenberg.

From the site:

list of functions:

• display an overview of available footage as screenshots on the NintendoDS
• arrange footage on three layers by drag&drop
• change color/opacity of layers
• blend layers by using different blend modes
• scratch videofiles by moving the stylus over the touchscreen
• control playback speed
• include your own vvvv-patches as plugins, just by placing them into a specified directory and inserting a few special-named input nodes
• control the vvvv-patches directly with the NintendoDS
• combine videofiles and vvvv-patches
• change the opacity of all three layers by using a 2D-crossfader

Looks fun, and I'll be giving it a go.

PS3 Net Service

At last, details of the sony net service from the BBC. Included here are launch titles. Interesting how many of these titles are games already on release on a certain other HD console....

Linky.

h i r 0 gets a new toy!

Many thanks to sometime Fi Club reader Misterbleepy for sending me this Tetris Jr keyring game made by my namesake HIRO company in Japan.

It also says HIRO on the back of the keyring. Accidentally personalised Japanese gift toys FTW!

I will, of course, be bringing this to Show and Tell at the next Fi Club.

For Sale: DS games

Some DS games I'm selling...

Polarium £5
Nintendogs Dachshund and Friends £15
Trauma Center £15
Sonic Rush £15
Metroid Prime Hunters £15
Castlevania Dawn of Sorrows £15

Anything not spoken for by Saturday goes on eBay.

DS Xtreme: DS modding made almost *too* easy

Had to post this -- a major WANT and the biggest wish on my list at the moment.

Travis over at Gizmodo has managed to get hold of the fabled DS Xtreme and has written a nice post about it with pics and screenies. Clicky here.

In a nutshell, it's a DS game pak with 4Gb of storage and a USB port to allow a PC hookup. H i r 0 and I looked at these a couple of months ago and were impressed (right, man? Remember that? Oh those were the days...). This thing will let you play MP3s on your DS and will also allow you to play your, um, 'backup' files on there too. The beauty of this system is that you don't need a passthru cartridge in the GBA slot or any hardware trickery to get it to read the DS gamepak, this puppy she jus' play the games.

Travis rates this thing pretty highly, and I love the idea of being able to use my DS as a pretty decent emulator. The comments in the Gizmodo thread are worth reading and staying on top of: apparently it can play backed up ROMS properly, ONLINE and with no problems. Sure, $125 is pretty rich, but it *must* be worth it.

Cheap PSP Games...

Just ventured down to Ross Records who have quite a collection of 2nd hand PSP games all of which seemed to be priced at around 15 quid. Bought Loco Roco!

Yay!

Its F-F-F Fi Week!

Its monday morning so naturally, my mind turns to friday night. Ugh, anyone else there yet?

So I would like to welcome all and sundry to Petersfield this Friday (13th) night.

It'll never work!

"hello?"..................."hello?"............"anybody there?"............
damn! How does this thing work?)....................."oh, I know".......

dot dot dot, dash dash dash, dot dot dot...................................................(no, that's not it)...............................
(how about...).....................................
What's going on here Stop This modern technology will never work Stop
Have I got it right yet Stop Very strange Stop Can't stop Stop See you Friday Stop Just realised Stop That I sent an email to Russell's old work
address Stop Sorry Stop What a tw.. STOP RICHARD Stop................

Soda Fountain

Sounds like nearly everyone in da club is getting Soda Fountain ready for Fiday. If you're one of the lucky few who can get online, this Datel headset will allow you to scream back at the kiddies handing you your ass on a plate every single game, and then mocking you in French (as I understand it.)

£9.99 is a good few quid cheaper than Amazon and postage is an additional £1.99, which is still cheaper than the big guys even with their "Really Slow and May Actually Never Arrive" rate.

Hopefully there'll be a bright shiny copy of SF at home ready for me when I get in, and I'll think about ordering a headset in the next week or so.

Anthony Devaney's great Nintendo PR Work

When Sony finally stand over the dead, smoking remains of their once-great company, one of the people they can blame is Anthony Devaney.

-----Original Message-----

From: ruut's email address
Sent: 9/10/2006 11:07:16 AM
To: Subject: PSP Network Access Code

Hello,

I recently moved to the UK from Japan and have brought my Sony PS2 and Sony PSP with me. I would like to carry on playing games with my friends back home in Japan and have been told that to play games like Siphon Filter, I need a network access code before I can sign up.

My PSP has no such code, it is a PSP1000. I'dlike to play some of the newer infrastructure games, but do not want to have tobuy a UK PSP. Please could you send me a network access code to allow me toplay my games online?

Many thanks for your help,

Ruut Ackses

-----Original Message-----
From: help@uk.ps2centralstation.com [mailto:help@uk.ps2centralstation.com]
Sent: 09 October 2006 11:14
To: ruut's email address
Subject: RE: Your Network Gaming Query

Dear Mr Ackses,

Thank you for your recent correspondence.

If you have purchased a UK or European PSP Value, Giga or Base Pack, the Network Access Code Voucher can be found on a red and white piece of paper with black writing. It is usually found tucked into the Plastic wrapping that the PSP manual and printed materials came in.

If you are unable to find this code, then can you please call the Network Gaming Careline on 08702 422 299 (national rate) where a member of our team will be happy to assist you further.

Please remember to quote your Reference Number: 1-8TUA3.

Our operating hours are between 8am - 10pm Monday to Friday, and 10am - 6pm
Saturday and Sunday.


Yours sincerely,


Anthony Devaney
PlayStation Network Gaming Careline
Sony Computer Entertainment UK
Careline: 08702 42 22 99 (National Rate)

-----Original Message-----

From: ruut's email address
Sent: 9/10/2006 11:37:50 AM
To: Subject: Your Network Gaming Query 1-8TUA3.

Hello,

I'm disappointed in your reply. Please, rather than scanning my email and picking out words you think fit a certain pre-written reply, READ MY EMAIL and answer it properly.

I am, after all, a Sony customer and I deserve better than this. I certainly expected better.

In easy to understand steps:

I am a customer

I need a network access code

I have a Japanese PSP1000

I have no red and white piece of paper with black writing

I started a conversation with you by email *to avoid* having to waste time and money on your *national rate* helpline. I'm trying to get a Sony product to work with a Sony game on a Sony network

Regards
Ruut Ackses

-----Original Message-----
From: help@uk.ps2centralstation.com [mailto:help@uk.ps2centralstation.com]
Sent: 09 October 2006 12:48
To: ruut's email address
Subject: RE: Your Network Gaming Query

Dear Mr Ackses,

Thank you for your recent correspondence. In order to receive a network access code can you please call the Network Gaming Careline on 08702 422 299 (national rate) where a member of our team will be happy to assist you further.

Please remember to quote your Reference Number: 1-8TUA3 in all correspondence.

Our operating hours are between 8am – 10pm Monday to Friday, and 10am – 6pm Saturday and Sunday.


Yours sincerely,


Anthony Devaney
PlayStation Network Gaming Careline
Sony Computer Entertainment UK
Careline: 08702 42 22 99 (National Rate)
E.Mail: UK_help@uk.playstation.com
Web: http://www.playstation.co.uk/

-----Original Message-----
From: ruut's email address
Sent: 09 October 2006 14:06
To: 'help@uk.ps2centralstation.com'
Subject: RE: Your Network Gaming Query

Great, thanks, don't go to any trouble.


______________________________

Natch, I didn't sign the email Ruut Ackses. Remember, kids, it's not bull$hit if it's part of one of my social engineering plots.

**Update: Called the number, got the code. Result!

War(craft)... Huh! What is it good for?

Taking the piss out of, natch... Especially if you're Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

The entire World of Warcraft episode of South Park ("Make Love not Warcraft") is available on Google Video.

You don't need to be a WoW fanatic to get most of the gags and there are some great nods to other games in there too.

Well worth a watch over lunch.

360 Laptop

Ben Heckendorn builds an Xbox 360 into a Laptop configuration (skip to page 5 for final photos.)

Nice mod!

The Video Game Baftas

Full story here.

Some quick highlights:

Ghost Recon wins games of the year.
Loco Roco wins best character and best children's title.
Lego Star Wars II won the award for gameplay.
Shadow of the Colossus earned the artistic achievement prize.
Shadow of the Colossus also won the best action and adventure Bafta.
Electroplankton for best audio.
Tomb Raider: Legend for best original score.
Guitar Hero for soundtrack.
Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach for multiplayer.

The innovation prize went to Nintendo DS title Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain?.

Nice to see some recognition for the developers, however, I disagreee with GRAW winning best game, personally I thought Oblivion was better. Good to see SOTC and some DS titles in there too.