Quit my course and what my plans are... It shouldn't of come to this.

Hi gamers!

After my last entry I've had quite a bit of time to think about where I'm going with the course. With also keeping last year's studies in mind I've come to the conclusion of quitting the course. There are many reasons why I have come to this conclusion, it's because I haven't learn't a god damn thing, not a single bit of information, alright fine I learn't how to use the UI of Maya BUT nothing else! A whole year's study I learn't the UI of Maya... Now don't get to the conclusion that I didn't pay attention, hardly anyone learn't anything.

So no one else falls into this horrible study centre again, steer clear of Kangan TAFEs. You've been warned!


My parents mentioned to me to try and search for another course, I straight away said  "no". Not with the way the education system has treated my older Sister and myself. Ever since primary school it's been nothing but troubles all the way through.

So where am I going to head after this? Well I have to get a job that's a very large priority here, I'll need an income to be able to learn everything myself (books and what not), yes it will be a slower process but at least I'll ACTUALLY LEARN SOMETHING! Not only for learning materials but I enjoy collecting as (I guess you figured already :P, of course that eats money, very quickly).

I've been trying to plan my life ahead by thinking were I'd be in a next 5-10 years, depending on my financial situation I'd most likely be in the US. There is just so much more for me over there than there is currently in Australia, of course it will never improve over here it's actually one of the most expensive places to live.
Anyhow, I'd love to get a job in the US and start my life over as not much has interested me here.

I know this is a gaming blog, but nothing hurts to have "unplugged" content now and then. I'm waiting on quite a few things to arrive so until then you see much content. Of course depending on events and what not :).
I should also mention I'll be attending the Supanova weekend! I'll be broke most likely afterwards, hope everyone is excited for it as I am ^_^ More hype for Supanova as it gets closer, but for all cosplayers out there, hope you finish your cosplays!!

  

EB Games Rant - Club Nintendo Cards Follow Up [Video]

Hi gamers!

As I've been up for pretty much 24hrs my brain is kinda mushy, but I must say I feel so more relaxed that I felt like making a video. I got this email a few weeks ago, but much like my previous entry I had computer problems which delayed the release of it. Well any how, here it is:

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

EB Games and their "completeness" issues. Warning to all collectors!!!

Hi gamers!

This is a long post, so if you can't be bothered reading on, I'll be making another rant video on this exact same topic later on in the week.

I have another issue I've currently been experiencing in a few stores. As you know, my friends and I go to various stores and buying uncommon games for Playstation 2, XBOX 360 and sometimes PSP.
Sometimes it does excite us to see an uncommon game in EB for around $4-$18, as it would for any collector.

We all know how much I've complained about bad condition cases, but that's the least of our worries. Once you've finally found a fair looking case(s) you take it to the counter for the staff member to look for the game behind the counter for 20 minutes. 15 minutes later we've walked out the store and finished our purchase, however only 3/4 games we wanted to buy we now own. They simply had bad organization in the draws that they have missed placed one of the games we were after, but that's only the icing on top of our cake here.

To finish things off, we got back to class and waited for our 15 minute breather, during that time I got my friend to open all the games he bought for me to take a look at (these are games I usually wouldn't buy). While opening the case I found it was very very flimsy like VERY flimsy, unlike the usual slight flexibility you find in the Playstation 2 flexcases these felt like poor poor knockoffs and that's because they were...
From the untrained eye these look very original, some Playstation 2 cases vary in colour but only very slightly and NOT very noticeable unless you compare them side by side.
A very easy way to notice these is by popping them open and to not find the Playstation symbol on the inside.

Knock off case

Colour comparison 

This doesn't only apply to Playstation 2, there are incorrect cases for XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 sometimes, I know it just keeps getting better doesn't it?

What strikes me is, why some of these games have original cases and some have these replacement cases. Before you mention "that's how they're traded in" is a complete lie and you know it! They use these knockoff cases because the ones that are traded in are extremely poor condition or the game was traded in without it and it's simply more money in their till.

They seem to mix and match games thinking it just simply will not matter and yes fine for the average gamer it won't matter. Fine EB Games is a place that sells entertainment and not a collector's store but when since does carelessness take place over a presentable store and products?
It's like eating a filthy restaurant and saying it's only a place that sells meals.

You might be thinking; "Haven't thought of asking for a better case, or simply asking you don't want the game because it's incomplete?" In fact yes, I have and so has my friend. Last time we went to the store a game we wanted didn't have the booklet, so my friend said he won't be taking that game because there isn't a booklet. Without the staff member insisting on lowering the price or anything else rational, she hammered down replying that the game has on screen instructions as well... Are you fucking kidding me? What if he's a collector, What if it was a gift? What if he JUST WANTED THE FUCKING BOOKLET!!!?!?!? Don't think he only said no once, he said no a total of 10 times before she put the game down and started getting the other games he wanted to buy. Unbelievable...

On the final stretch there is just one more problem, JUST one more. If a game comes with two CD/DVDs, make sure you get both and both in the correct case and again this applies to collectors. My friend FINALLY found an reasonable priced copy of Final Fantasy-X, and guess what.. it's incomplete...

(Before you read any further on my collecting rants, please remember I nor or any other collector would like to hear your stupid comments about why it matters. You clearly just don't understand collecting to begin with, so this just isn't the blog for you to be reading...)

I know this a minor complaint but, take this as a warning guys. If you're collecting and you want stuff complete, help yourself and future collectors and not buy from EB for collection purposes unless you've pre-ordered. You get treated like an idiot. If you're a gamer who doesn't care about a missing booklet or incorrect case go right ahead it wouldn't bother you anyway. When it comes to reselling or trade in (another store) it maybe difficult! Keep it in mind.

All images taken by: An!NE

EB Games Rant - Club Nintendo Points out in the Open! [Video]

Hi gamers!

I made a quick rant video about how EB Games treat Club Nintendo Point Cards.. Take a look.

Local game store chains, take note!

Hi gamers!

As usual I go to local stores to find some current generation games here and there, I don't always buy current generation games but when I do it's a sequel or some interesting title that's been talked about a lot. Most my friends are not retro fans or as into retro gaming as I am, so a bit of current generation hangs around me. Take note that this up coming rant is going to be a *rant*, because I've got a lot of built up anger that's making my blood boil about local game store chains, yes like EB Games, GAME, and Gametraders also other retailing multi-stores like JB Hi-Fi.

Let's start off with this quality guarantee a lot of them say in their ads, bags, posters, magazines and what not. What exactly do they mean by this? They sell recent products that every other store sells and it's on their shelf? Or maybe it's got to do with how good their products are that stand out from their competitors... Well I think the last one takes the cake, however I beg to differ.
Not once have I bought a new or pre-owned game that is actually in acceptable condition, and I'm talking about cosmetically. I've seen a few game cases in EB that are scratched, torn, missing the plastic over the case, ripped inserts and the list goes on. Never have I seen these put into a scratch/dent bin, they're still on the shelf at full price, tossers.

Exactly where is this quality!? Now let alone buying a pre-owned game from any of the stores I mentioned above, the staff just don't understand that a Classics/Platinum goes in their own cases, NOT into a black label case you morons. I'm sorry, but if you accept a trade in with the incorrect disc, don't lay the blame on the customer, just refund the customer and stop making a scene about it. Also I should mention that, these experiences are also from my friends and people I know online. I just don't understand how getting a complete game is a taboo thing, once you hand over your cash it turns into store credit for THEIR mistake.. Wankers!

Not ALL stores and this doesn't happen ALL the time, but the problem seems to be with the staff.. They're obviously just not trained to understand that their products they have in the store should be cared for in a mature manner. I can accept bad quality games from Multi-Merch stores like K-mart (walmart), Target and other stores, but EB, and GAME!? They don't hire juniors and yet their products look like they do! Yet, I get turned down for every interview for their stores, and so do the rest of us.

The first thing people say to me when I mention this, is that "Staff get paid minimum wage... blah blah". So does every other man and his dog but you don't see every store you go to looking horrible and getting treated like your from space. Like I said, this doesn't happen ALL the time but when it does it's just plain annoying and needs to be addressed.

It's an on going problem and most likely it's here to stay, but I just had to get it off my chest once and for all. I think it's time Indie stores get back into the gaming store scene, I miss Gamerush, E2 and other great stores when I was younger..