Final Fantasy 12 - Should We Download It?

This is something that could cost us our lives, but we feel compelled to say it.


We should download it, if it's there and you have the ability to do it then take it - it's yours. We haven't got the capability to play the game because we don't have a modded PS2 or that HDD workaround thing, but if we did then we would.

Why aren't we talking about something more serious anyway? How many people have bothered to mod their PS2's? That's NOTHING compared to the millions of people around the globe that will be downloading the first episode for Series 3 of LOST tomorrow, or Galactica this weekend. All that's been made far too easy now RSS searches have taken bittorrent by storm.

"Ooooh careful" you may say, but come on - think about it. Where is the honest average Joe on the internet in these times? NOWHERE. Why aren't people complaining about the new Pokemon DS games being available for download? Likely they're in Japanese but we're sure that there is a team working on it right now to have it ready well before it's out in the states.

The industry needs to step up and sort themselves out if they're going to stop "massive" leaks like this. Remember Halo 2? Were you one of the ones that played it before it came out? Well we were - we bloody finished it before it came out. But we couldn't play it on XBox Live - and we knew we wanted to give Bungie the money for the game. (we bought two tin copies!)

Why? Because they deserved it. Hopefully Square deserve your hard earned cash for Final Fantasy, and if you are a true fan you will buy the game.

You see we aren't encouraging you to download it simply to screw over "the man". We want you to do it so that one day someone will realise that it can't be stopped and they need to completely overhaul the way in which games are distributed. We hate the way that sites all over the internet (who are probably downloading it as we speak) are taking the moral high ground and blaming the pirates for these problems, when the finger should be pointed at the people who make the games in the first place. Don't make it easy for the pirates, sort yourselves out.

How can piracy be stopped? CAN it be stopped? We don't know the answers to this and we're not going to pretend we do. Companies like Square-Enix can't shut down bittorrent sites and stop file sharing, no matter where they try and cut it off. Be it the site, the ISP or the user. You're only stopping a handful. You need to try something else.

Maybe developing for a secure platform may be a start? Well, its a given you need to find one first. How about:

Digital distribution - Live Arcade has kick started this notion
Worldwide release - Don't give it to Japan half a year before everyone else!
Serial codes - OK so Windows XP isn't exactly pirate-proof but it's getting close

We can hear the sirens drawing closer to our house already.

COMMENTS FROM OTHER SITES WE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AND DETEST:

playfuls:
"So, in the end, the only interesting thing to be observed in days to come is how many of the so-called "FF fans" will betray Square and download this pirated version."

boomtown (they haven't quite caught up yet)
"It’s a shame that Square Enix’ hard work on one of the (with all probability) best PS2 games ever was so close to being spoiled by pirates. This incident happened only a few days after another supposed leak, when a Gears of War copy appeared."

Nazi Animal Crossing - The Fourth Reich?

This has got UK:Resistance written all over it, was this your doing Cutlack?


We've recently been emailed from Beppin who directed us to their blog, of which their mission statement is:

"The Beppin Legacy attempts to document all efforts made in creating a utopia for animals and humans"

The blog makes a good read if you're not jewish, their propaganda style posters are wonderous.


"Herr Hitler began cursing the name of Redd Fox, rather verbosely. He became very animated when he recounted the forged paintings the "schmutzig fox" had sold him. I could sympathise with his rage, as Redd Fox had caused me untold embarassment when presenting paintings to Oberschtze Blathers M. Owl, only to be told the painting I'd just spent my hard earned bells on was a fake."

Make Optimus Prime Speak! Transformers Movie Competition To Get Your Line In The Film!

Lets not waste any time:

"Paramount Pictures announces the “MAKE PRIME SPEAK” contest, a bold initiative that will supply what fans demand – Optimus Prime speaking their words. Fans can submit a line of dialogue that they would most like to hear Optimus Prime say in the film.
First place winner will have his/hers phrase spoken by Prime, in the new Transformers movie!

Contest launches on Oct. 2, 2006.
“Make Prime Speak” will run from October 2nd to October 23rd, 2006.
The timeline for the contest is as follows:
The "Make Prime Speak" Contest begins on October 2, 2006, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on October 23, 2006.
The Contest Period consists of a submission phase, which begins on October 2, 2006, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on October 12, 2006.
The voting phase begins at 12:00 a.m. on October 16, 2006 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on October 23, 2006.
All times are Pacific Time."

Pretty cool hey?
You probably wanna know how to sign up?

"During the Submission Phase:
1)Go to www.transformersmovie.com and complete the registration form found on the site, with the information requested, including an original line of dialogue you would like to hear Prime speak, and submit the entry.
2)All contestants who enter a Submission into the Contest will be emailed a password associated with his/her email that will allow him/her to participate in the Voting Phase of the Contest. Limit one entry per person and/or per email address.
3)During the Submission Phase, Sponsor will post Submissions in a scrolling submission box on the Website.
4)Each entry must be no longer than 120 characters.
5)**Users can submit one line per email address. For example: if you have 20 different email addresses, you can submit a chance to Make Prime Speak 20 times."

Incredible! They even let us know how to cheat!
We've got our completely suitable entries ready! Shame you can't do this for Steven Hawkins too.
Here's some more info about what you can win:

"The determination of Finalists will be based on originality, appropriateness to Prime's character and relevance to the Picture's story.
Submissions are on a first come, first serve basis. Enter early and often.
Up to 100 of the best Submissions will be selected to be posted online for others to view and judge.
At the end of the Voting Phase, up to 30 Finalists who receive the most non-suspect votes will be submitted to the filmmakers, who will determine the winners in their sole discretion.
The Winners will be announced on the Website on or about November 9, 2006.

WHAT YOU CAN WIN
The filmmakers will select one (1) Grand Prize Winner whose Submission may be spoken by Peter Cullen in the Picture.
The filmmakers will select two (2) Second Prize Winners whose Submissions may be spoken by Peter Cullen and used for mobile ringtones.
The filmmakers will select up to seven (7) Third Prize Winners whose Submissions will be read by Peter Cullen and made available for visitors to listen to on the Website.
All prize winners will receive:
1) a "Transformers" Prize pack that includes a limited edition "Transfomers" T-Shirt (Approximate Retail Value "ARV": $25.00 and a "Transformers" poster signed by Peter Cullen (ARV: $5.00).

Lifesize Halo Plasma Sword - Homemade And SOOO Cool

Apologies to our good friend who made this for us for our birthday, we've been meaning to mention it for so long and plug your incredible craftsmanship.


His first and only attempt at creating a lifesize Plasma Sword from Halo and we can't put it down, to the same degree that we can't put our lightsabre down either.


We can't remember what it's made out of, but it feels so right to hold it.

More pics on Flickr!

Support The Hoff - Get Him To Number One!

Buy his single, make him feel again.

We're joining many sites on the internet and happening radio stations like BBC Radio 1 to try and make the completely impossible happen.

GET DAVID HASSELLHOFF TO NUMBER ONE THIS WEEK BUY JUMP IN MY CAR

Think about it, why do you want to buy it? He was drunk on the telly on Friday morning on GMTV which gets our vote, and as a bonus he accidentally insulted the scottish woman on there.

Then there's the hilarious video...

Naked Girl With Computer Stuff - We've Found The Best One, Up Yours Destructoid

Let us introduce you to "Female Tech".
She's well up for much more than that naked girl off of Destructoid, and she's actually feminine!


We think she's gorgeous and would like to direct you all to her wonderful flickr account.

she loves looking at comics in her underwear just like us!

she won't let go of her mega drive either!

we dream of a world like this

There's a whole section on Flickr called Video Game Fetishism? Crikey!

PSP GPS: BORING (unless used to start fights)

How long will it be before everyone gets bored of this stuff?


We give it 3 hours.

The photographer does get the award for trying to make something so boring look attractive.

Looking at Gizmodo we've learned that:
"besides providing GPS mapping and navigation functions along with points of interest (POI) info, that GPS attachment can also be used for games including a golf game, Everybody's Golf Course, which can give you information about your actual shots on a real-world golf course"

Who cares? That's the laziest thing in the entire world. If you have the money for a shitty add-on like this and are interested enough to buy the adapter and the game, then it's likely you'd rather be competing with Donald Trump on the ACTUAL GOLF COURSE. That is unless you are shit at golf and need to make yourself feel better. If that's so you'll also enjoy DOAX2.

Wait, there's more...

"There will also be upcoming games that will guide you around different spots so you can physically interact with other players, especially your enemies"


We do not understand this. Can someone please explain it? We think it means that someone else with a copy of the game and the adapter will register on your PSP as "the enemy" and you are then allowed to go do them over. If that's the case then we'll have one of them.

No HD-DVD For You Mr United Kingdom! Has Blu-Ray launched it's first sting?

Where in the hell are they? They're supposed to be here now!

We looked round London on Saturday morning in all the big shops and they weren't there. Even Play are having trouble getting a delivery of em.


Can YOU shed some light on this? And do we know if the ones from the states are actually region locked? Or is it that the players are? Will the 360 one be locked? Whats going on? Has Sony secretly destroyed the ship with the Hi Def discs headed for the UK?

That Limited Edition PREY Tin Is HUUUUGE!

We finally remembered to pick up the Limited Edition of Prey the other week, and it came today. Yes we're in the UK, yes we bought it online and YES IT WORKS WITH A UK PAL XBOX 360! Check our Gamertag if you don't believe us.

It's well worth it for bragging rights alone. We love tins, we get any game if it comes in a tin.

Tin tin tin.

You get some pewter figures. They'll fight for your attention.

A snakeskin covered book of art.

And not forgetting the game, which they hid at the back of the tin.

Its the size of the Band Of Brothers DVD boxset. ITS THE BIGGEST TIN WE HAVE!
(Apart from the Half Life 2 one)

Want one? We got ours from DVDBoxOffice for about £30, but it seems more expensive now.

Check out more sexy pics on our Flickr account!

FUCKING SMALLVILLE

If you haven't seen the start of series 6 yet then don't read anymore, in fact if you like Smallville don't read anymore. For a series that wished to "detach" itself from the Superman movies, they've done a good job haven't they?

nope not seen anything like this at the cinema

looks NOTHING like the Phantom Zone from the films either

For Zod's sake.
OK I'm going to try and stop a rant, but how can you take such a great concept and throw it completely away. The only time I found myself interested was when Zod / Lex started to do some fighting and flying and when Zods ( what can only be described as ) person left him.

We don't know where to start, the cliffhanger disappointed us so we were expecting something equal. There's too much teamwork, bag guys are killed by mysterious one-off artifacts too much. This isn't Buffy.

How much have they shot themselves in the foot? How is Superman ever going to exist now? He'd have to alter his face, or wear a mask - Clark Kent still doesn't wear glasses? Is he going to have to french kiss every person to make them forget who he is? Who is Lois going to fall in love with? There's no Superman... Chloe is the real Lois Lane.

THE THREE THINGS SMALLVILLE IS GOOD FOR


- ERICA DURANCE - she is the most beautiful Lois Lane ever
- THEY KILLED OFF JONATHAN KENT - don't bring him back again
- LEX LUTHOR - he's good, he just need's to be more of an arse

Last series was starting to look ok after we got Spike and ditched shitty storylines about Lana being a witch, Indians and caves and gaaaah. Now we've got boring criminals from the Phantom Zone knocking around and people wanting to start a Justice League. Can it work? The Phantom Zone was shit inside aswell, nothing like we imagined - don't have him walking round with a bloody tea towel on his head - he looked like a terrorist.

We'd have had Zod knock around for a LOT longer and not possess Lex, get someone with facial hair. Take the jump and make Lex an evil fucker, get him to kill his dad. Let Zod wreak havoc for the series! AND stop this "oooh Clark's figured out another super-power" every series! Let him discover a few more - let him fly!

Oh thats right you keep using up your budget after the first episode of every series don't you? Bring back Lois and Clark.

If you're going to watch any of the new series to start, watch Studio 60. Thats good TV.

End of rant that wasn't supposed to be a rant. We're going to talk about videogames again soon.