A Gamer Girl's random musings, thoughts on games, personal reviews, exaltations about games coming out (or ones I finally got around to beating!), and gripes about waiting a long time for certain games to come out..as well as stuff about my own life..in short, a gaming blog!

• 2Oct 08

  A new ds? Didn't see THAT coming! *rolls eyes*

  Honestly, I'm a huge fan of Nintendo's, but after the multiple GBAs and as of now, 2 different DSs, I'm getting tired of buying the same dang hardware in a newer, shinier package!
  
  .."the new version has a larger screen, SD card slot, 3MP, camera and access to an upcoming downloads store.
  But the battery life is significantly lower and it's no longer backwards compatible with GBA titles..."
  
  -Gizmodo
  
  DSi? What the heck does that stand for anyway? I like some of that stuff, but less battery? When I still have to charge my ds on average a couple times a week due to playing it too much(and with the release of Disgaea ds even more now!) I think not! They had better make the battery life comparable to the current models or I won't even bother, camera, sd cards, et al!
  
  Personally, this made me wonder if this is Nintendo's way of getting back at software pirates. See, with SD card updates, pirates can't necessarily take what they don't buy..or can they? I worry that if Nintendo makes you have to pay for the new downloadable content (or pay for older gb/gba titles) even MORE people will turn to software piracy, but worse..they won't have to buy game cards and sd cards that go in them to play them, they can just pop them in the new sd card slot!
  
  EDIT: Not trying to discuss the how-tos of game pirating, just trying to point out a potential flaw of the new DSi
  
  -What's Nintendo up to now?
  Comments?
  
  UPDATE: Just learned all about the New features of the up-coming DSi
  
  - No GBA Slot
  - SD Slot
  - Internal storage space
  - Two built-in cameras (3MP & 0.3MP)
  - Music player (seems like a built-in "Play-Yan" media player)
  - Bigger screens
  - Slightly thinner than the DS Lite
  - Just ONE Touch Screen (Same as DS/Lite)
  - Built in web browser
  - "DS Ware" to be available for purchase (including free apps/games like the Apple App store)
  - Will be available in Japan on November 1st for $179.99(god! That's actually more expensive then the psp!)
  - A new firmware and DS Channel/App interface
  - Mii support on DS
  
  other things of note: The DSi will have its own unique AC adapter and will not share the same battery pack as the DS Lite handheld. (Dangit! I have to carry a different charger already for my ds lite, gba, AND micro! ARRGH!)
  
  Also, IGN just noted it's awful battery life!
  
  .."But with all the extras the DSi offers, the battery life isn't quite up to the same standards as the DS Lite. At the lowest brightness setting, the DSi lasts 9 to 14 hours on a single charge depending on a variety of factors like Wi-Fi use. This doesn't quite meet the DS Lite's energy usage, at least according to Nintendo numbers where the current system lasts between 15 and 19 hours on a single charge. At the highest brightness, the usage of the DSi drops to 3 to 4 hours on a charge, compared to DS Lite at 5 to 8 hours."
  • Posted Oct 2, 2008 8:06 pm PT
  • Category: Rant
  • 6 Comments
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• 15Sep 08

  Growing up so fast!

  Hey everyone!
  Update on my nearly 1-year-old!
  
  
  
  Two fun videos I took at an old-fashioned country diner, The Black Bear Diner.
  This is Part one of two
  
  
  
  This video is part two
  
  
  
  Last Sun, Sept 13th, Laura took several steps to me. We were in a favorite coffee shop celebrating Micha's(my "sis"s) birthday, and when she did it, the whole place grew very quiet then broke into cheers. She buried her face in my skirt and howled, so I think it scared her, lol!
  She's been looking so wistful when she sees other kids running about outside and playing..
  
  ..I even hear a little sigh when I'm holding her while she's watching, so I know it's only a matter of time till she can do it! She wants to so bad!
  
  Let's see...
  her vocabulary is as follows:
  "Ma-ma"
  "Da-da"
  "Yeah?" and "Yeah!"
  "Uh, oh!" (When she drops something)
  "Uhhhhh-uhhhh" ("Up", when she wants to be picked up, includes reaching hands)
  "Kiii!"("Kitty")
  can Mooo like a cow
  howl like a wolf
  point to a baby, bird, cat or dog when asked to
  recognizes pictures of Mama and Daddy
  knows how to sign for "more" and "all done!" when being fed
  
  She likes to open and close doors and cupboards with a satisfying "bang!"
  and is fascinated with putting lids on and taking them off, and putting things in and taking them out of things.
  
  She is starting to recognize shapes and colors, and loves to be read to for about 20-30 min each morning.
  Loves to crawl around at the library and pick out books to read!
  
  one of the funniest(and embarrassing for me, sometimes) things she does, is if she wants a (*ahem!* "booby snack") she will reach into my shirt, and draw one out! (In public, usually)..I just smile and turn away to nurse her(she won't stand for a discreet blanket to nurse, oh no! Nor can I cover her with my shirt..bah!)
  
  Everyone around me finds it funny, and cute how she likes to stand in my lap to nurse(Rather then be held to nurse, like most "normal" babies"!),head under my shirt; until she tires of it and pulls it off her face, and I again flash everyone! *sigh* giggle* What can I do? I'm not that modest and she needs to eat!
  
  Oh! and we *FINALLY* have a tooth, after weeks of Tylenol, teething gel and "grumpy days". One in on the bottom, another coming in next to it!
  
  She likes to scamper about on all fours, rump in the air (Mowgli-style), especially if she is on the sidewalk, and doesn't like the feel of it on her knees. She loves to be chased around the house, and can move fast on all fours!
  
  That's it for today's update!
  More coming soon
  • Posted Sep 15, 2008 1:47 pm PT
  • Category: People
  • 6 Comments
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• 12Sep 08

  SPORE and the DRM(Digital Rights Management) controversy

  Let me first start off by saying, I was looking forward to Spore for the PC. However, after hearing about this problem with "DRM" I'm worried about installing it.
  My mom confessed to wanting to get it for me for my birthday, but is having trouble finding it. My job is to find it and tell her. Good thing I had a pre-order!
  Anyway.. First: for those who have no I idea what I'm going on about, read this article
  then take a look at the OVERWHELMING negative reviews about Spore on Amazon.com. Over 2,000 and counting!
  Now, why is everyone up in arms?
  
  Because a game WE bought and paid for(without pirating) is not really ours! First of all, the game incorporates a draconian DRM system that requires you to activate over the internet, and limits you to a grand total of 3 activations. If you reach that limit,(If your computer crashes(something that has happened to any of you I am sure), you need to reformat your hard drive for ANY reason or you upgrade,) then you'll have to call EA in order to add one extra activation. That's not as simple as it sounds, since when you reach that point EA will assume that you, the paying customer, are a filthy pirating thief. You'll have to call up EA and provide the following:
  - Order number:
  - Date of Order:
  - Full name used to place the order:
  - Email address used to place the order:
  - Last 4 digits of the Credit card used to place the order:
  - Date of birth as listed on the account:
  - Zip Code as listed on the account:
  
  How do I know? Because I am having that problem with the full(paid) version of the demo! I bought and paid for the full version of the demo, and rather then give me my registration keys so I can re-download, I'm being treated like a pirate, even though on my Spore Page it clearly shows I have both the free demo and the full, paid demo.
  However, neither would work on my computer, so I had to install it on my husband's computer.
  
  Well, we just upgraded mine, so I went to install the free demo..but had no idea how to go about installing the full version(THAT I PAID FOR!), and EA wants all my info AGAIN just to prove I am not a pirate!
  And that's just the demo!
  In the full GAME, not only do you get 3 installs EVER(without contacting them and giving them your sob story and trying hard to get them to believe you are NOT a pirate) but a DRM rootkit gets downloaded to your computer WITHOUT ANY DIALOGUE windows pop-up boxes or anything. Furthermore it SPIES on you!
  want proof?
  
  read what these unhappy folks had to say!
  .."In their desperate attempt to control piracy (and their users in general), the only thing they've succeeded in doing is pushing /even more/ users to pirate it.
  
  It's like DVDs - you only get that pesky un-skipable Piracy notice at the start if you actually bought it legally. Pirate it and you get it chopped off for you!
  
  These methods solely punish their few remaining genuine customers. You know, I actually bought Mass Effect, laden with SecuROM malware et all. The thing crashed on me once, and I had to kill the process. But, I dared to use that EVIL HACKER TOOL ProcessExplorer, and SecuROM refused to let me run the game again (at least until I rebooted). So now the games I buy legally are dictating what apps I am allowed to use on my own computer? Frack that. Idiots."
  
  "Maybe it is a software company's god given right to put whatever kind of "protection" they want on their game and force you to check the little "I acecpt" box on the EULA. Of course, what else are you going to do? Even if you don't agree with the terms, it's not like you can return the software to the store if it has been opened.
  
  The security on the Spore disc is SecuROM. A little history shows that SecuROM's company, Sony DADC, has had 3 class action lawsuits filed against them, settled out of court with the Federal Trade Commission regarding rootkits in SecuROM. This was done in January of 2007, then SecuROM was at it again, installing rootkit software in August of 2007.
  
  In addition to the potential unwanted code installed by SecuROM, Spore's DRM is particularly onerous as it essentially will just shut you out if you have the occasion to have to reinstall it for a fourth time.
  
  Can you imagine any other industry getting away with this?
  Sorry, your TV will no longer work if you move it into a different room, but you can call up the company and they will turn it on for you after you deal with their ever helpful customer service. Sounds like a good business model to me.
  
  The pirates out there who download cracked copies of this game will not be subjected to the limitations, but paying customers will. How is this supposed to stop piracy again?"
  
  DRM really is a type of "malware" that stays in hidden in a weird directory(I have friends who have the game)and quietly reports everything you do, gaming-wise to EA and various others. So, now we are being spied on by what games we play?!"
  
  I am not a software pirate by any stretch. I use ITunes only to play audiobooks that I subscribe to on audible.com, and my family and I share CD's. As to game cd's, for the longest time I had no idea what it meant for them to be "cracked" and why I had to have a special code to activate the games.
  Since then, we have legitimately bought all our games.
  
  However, since I do other things on the internet I could be in major trouble because the malware can and does bypass admit rights to your computer, and if you use ANY unauthorized software(like my current TRIAL of WINRAR and Microsoft Office I am forced to use until payday) you might get BSO'd! (Blue Scree Of Death!)
  
  Unless you don't really care about such things. In which case you may get ticked off at EA for THIS nonsense!
  
  "Personally, I don't really care about the DRM restrictions. I dont resell my games and I have one computer so the number of installs doesnt really bother me, but WHOOOPS.... now I discover I cant have multiple players on the same 'account'. So now my wife and I have to choose WHO will get to play Spore, not simply for an evening but EVER since multiple 'players' are not allowed.
  
  This is just stupidity. Spore is NOT an MMO, it does have an online content aspect, but there is no interaction between players and no competition between players, so it is a single player game just with 'on the fly' content download.
  
  If multiple players are not allowed to play the game, it should state it clearly on the box so it is not purchased. I am upset with EA." -amazon.com reviewer
  
  On a side note, some people think the whole thing is blown way out of proportion.
  
  As for me, I guess I will ask my mom to hang on to everything proving she bought the game, just in case I have to reactivate my game above and beyond the 3 install limit.
  [EDIT: By the way, Spore was cracked without the DRM a week before its US release. HOW was this supposed to prevent software pirates, again?]
  
  "It is a felony in the USA to cause computers to execute unauthorized code! It is part of the DMCA!(Wikipedia: DMCA: .."It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures (commonly known as Digital Rights Management or DRM) that control access to copyrighted works and it also criminalizes the act of circumventing an access control, whether or not there is actual infringement of copyright itself.")
  Sony was found guilty before. They had to pay and promise not to do it again."
  
  There have been several cases where people who put lockout codes in software they sold were found guilty. A couple even went to prison. Furthermore, I'm afraid stunts like this will be the downfall of the PC industry!
  
  What are your thoughts?
  Are you infuriated about this too?
  I heard this was a huge deal with Mass Effect, but since I don't play those types of games, finding this sort of thing in the gaming news media came as quite a shock!
  Or do you care less?
  Post away!
  • Posted Sep 12, 2008 8:56 am PT
  • Category: Games
  • 10 Comments
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