I take it back.

Posted 24.01.2008 12 1964

Now Playing: Zack and Wiki

Okay, I won't nuke Parcel Force with anger, because they've actually been saints.

Quick rewind. My DS's hinge broke, so I sent it off to Nintendo with a label they sent me, through Parcel force, who subsequently lost it completely.

Nintendo tell me 'send us a copy of the receipt and we'll start the claim process', I did that over a week ago, and called up recently to see whats happening. As it turns out, the claim has finished, and a brand-spanking new DS Lite is on the way to me right now, curtesy of Parcel Force paying for it.

..which feels strange for some reason. If they hadn't lost it, I would've had to pay up-ward of 40 quid to get my old machine fixed, so they've saved me money. So all the aggro was worth it.

But, a new dilemma presents itself. I bought a new DS last week (a nice Gold Triforce-embedded American one), so I don't really need the white one now. Do I sell it and make back the hundred I used on Goldy, or keep it for spare? And if the DS unit that went AWOL in the post ever does turn up at Nintendo HQ, do I have to give back the new one they've sent me? (probably not, but you never know).

Bugger, what should I do?

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Note to self, nuke Parcel Force.

Posted 09.01.2008 6 2097

Now Playing: Endless Ocean (Might calm my nerves a bit)

I am absolutely seething right now. Those Parcel Force muppets have only gone and lost my goddamned DS!

I'll explain. Last week, I sent out my broken DS lite with one of those special Nintendo labels (that was sent to me by customer support), and expected to hear back from them before the end of the week. Nothing.
I check on the progress of the parcel today through their website. They have no record of it at all. Same with the phoneline, nada.
I phone up Nintendo Customer Support for help, they haven't got it yet, and couldn't find any record of the parcel anywhere. They said that Parcel Force parcels usually only take 48 hours to reach their desitnation, so there has to have been a hiccup in the process somewhere.

I even checked with the Post Office, and they definately sent it out, so it must be Bastard Parcel Force's fault.

Because of all this, it seems that now it seems I have no bloody choice but to fill in a claim, and have to wait about a sodding month before I can play goddamned YuGiOh again.

So, I'm seriously considering buying another DS for now, and selling the new one once that labourous process is finished, what do you guys think of it?

PS. To those who say 'Can't you just wait?' My answer is 'NO'. I'm probably the least patent person on the planet.

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R.est I.n P.arcel force, DS lite

Posted 31.12.2007 8 1955

Now Playing: with blue-tak.
Now Listening to: Raaadio One.
Now Watching: Random new year tv movies.

Well, it finally happened. my DS hinge breathed its last. After a year and a half of useage, the little handheld that could, couldn't take anymore, said Fuck you, and stopped letting me play Yu Gi Oh. (Cue long sad Violin music)

Okay, I confess, its mostly my fault. I was the brainless twat that dropped it on concrete last summer and let it bounce around unprotected in my backpack for so long. Poor little sod.

So, now my DS is making its merry way to Nintendo for mending or replacement, and I now have one less thing to do with my time.

So, to help fill the time, lets hear about your repair stories. The consoles that you broke or broke themselves, and the replacement process that ensued. Give me a laugh.

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Anyone need a spare Zapper?

Posted 27.12.2007 8 2214

Now Playing: Mario and Sonic (Xmas prezzie)
Now Watching: Simpsons

Well, I'm selling mine, along with Crossbow Training. I've tried to get used to it, but the goddamn shell is so goddamned awkward you have to wonder who the hell designed it. Mind you, I have big, fat hands, so no real surprise.
I read a lot of good reviews about the package on most sites, and being a big fan of Lightgun Arcade games, I thought getting one at launch as a good idea. Guess it was a bit hasty. Still, I guess the Zapper's okay once you get used to it.
So whoever wants it, look at number 120202883804 on Ebay, and go for it.

Oh yeah, I did like the game quite a lot, but didn't really feel that it would be fair to sell the Zapper without it.

EDIT: Since Angus somehow blocked the comments bar, I'll explain here. I felt that saying mistaken douplicate Christmas Present was better than saying bought-it-and-played-through-it-but-didn't-enjoy-it-and-wanted-to-pass-it-on-to-someone-who-will.
Besides, that isn't far from the truth anyhow. It was an early Christmas present (to myself), and it was a douplicate in the sense that I expected something better.
And besides all that, the sale is honest to truth.:cooldude:

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First-time importer

Posted 16.12.2007 12 1971

Now Listening to: Toolbar Radio one
Now Watching: Youtube

Due to some browsing, I've found out that one of the DS games I'm impatiently waiting for next year is already out in America, so, (for the first time admittedly), I'm considering an import. Since I've never really done this before, I need a bit of guidance.

The DS is region-free, that fact I'm aware of, so something else I'm unclear of, is whether it'd work online. Can an american copy connect to british servers without any major hiccups? (This is important for the game, you see).

Also, is Ebay good for this sort of thing? I've seen the game advertised on there, but wondered if I could get any feedback from the process here beforehand.
(Doesn't have to be Ebay really, just anywhere that uses paypal methods, I never really wanted or needed a credit card.)

A bit of help would be very much appriciated.

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Half way (or quarter-way) point

Posted 04.12.2007 11 1936

Now Playing: With bubblewrap.
Now Listening to: Fighting of the Spirit (Guess which Game?)
Now Watching: ...I have no idea.

Okay, I confess, I'm nowhere near the end of FF12 yet, dispite seeming having all the time in the world for it.
This blog post is purely to see if I can summon some motivation to go back to it (god its so dull)

From my open-minded observation so far, I have to say, the game itself isn't the epitome of awfulness I first thought. The battle system is fine once you get used to it, despite the fact you hardly do anything, and the scope of the world and Music are pretty damn good, so not any complaints there.

I really do want to go back, but theres nothing special to tempt me. To anyone who has played/completed FF12, does it get any better after you've found out who Amelia really is, and you get off that ship?

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Judgement for FF12

Posted 22.11.2007 8 1953

Now Playing: Mario Galaxy as Luigi (Wa-hey!)
Now Listening to: Live and Learn

Regular readers of my posts will know that there are quite a few big-name games that I happen to hate. Halo 3 and Final Fantasy 12 among them. But I have to say honestly that my dislike is not usually fully justified.
By that, I mean that I haven't played them through fully, and thus most likely drawing an inaccurate impression from them. Usually just the start of each one until I can't take anymore of it.

But now I'm going to jusify one of my pet-hates. I recently ordered FF12 and will play it through to the end, until I'm in a coma of boardom or surprisingly entertained (My vote is for the former). Wish me luck, and say if it gets better past that kidnap senario, it'll be greatly appriciated.

(Oh, and to make sure that fucking License board doesn't get in the way, I'm removing it.)

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Posters. B*****d Posters.

Posted 17.11.2007 5 2074

Now Playing: Mario Galaxy (In my mind. Neat, huh?)
Now Listening to: Sonic Boom, by God knows who.
Now Watching: The Clock (I'm on a limit here)

My room must be cursed or something. Short of nailing them to the wall, my shitty games posters will just.not.stay.up!
Blue-tak's a no-go now then, great. Its a crap wall, so Pins would probably bring the whole thing down on me, and sellotape has always been useless.
Any suggestions, compadres? :cooldude:

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Photoshop New-be

Posted 07.11.2007 13 1934

Now Playing: SatSR (Good old data transfer)
Now Listening to: Bugger all
Now Watching: *Waiting for* Simpsons

Looking through many of the forums around the net, I see great looking avatars and signatures, and long to be that creative myself.
Many of the posterers say they used something called photoshop to make them. Now I have a laptop, I want to give it a try, instead of just finding and posting pictures.
So my questions are these; What is Photoshop, and how do I get it? Would you recommend it to a computer beginner, and if not, is there a decent alternative

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Oh Bollocks.

Posted 31.10.2007 13 1912

Now Playing: Streets of Rage 2
Now Listening to: -
Now Watching: Simpsons

Bought a Laptop today (at last!) at what I thought was a bargain deal (

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