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Game Enthusiasts and Other Such Things

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    Game Enthusiasts and Other Such Things

    Dear all,

    I have been thinking recently about trading forums, and in particular the one here on our very own NTSC-UK.

    Now I can only judge from my own experience but I have to say I am becoming more and more enamoured with it as a method of getting what you want at a reasonable price.

    For example, I picked EEE for a measly ?6, Sonic Gems for a measly ?4 an Asian God of War for ?10 and I traded some titles for the (mostly unavailable) Halo 3 legendary edition. I consider all these to be absolute bargains. If I wanted to get hold of any of these items from anywhere else it would be;
    a) More expensive
    b) More hassle
    c) Lacking that certain feeling of fuzziness.

    So that fuzziness. I feel that when a group of game enthusiasts get together they can exhibit some real feats of altruism. The fuzziness can be exhibited by looking on the trading forums at the time of a major release. A lot of people will buy two copies of a game to ensure we can play it a.s.a.p. The same can be said of trying a new release to 'check' if it is region free.

    Come the same or next day of release I'll often see copies of the latest titles at cost price or less. I consider this to be a gesture, not only of good faith but one based around a community of interest. We play together, we discuss together and we trade with each other. There are, with a few exceptions, no scalpers here.

    Further examples of the fuzziness come from the lengths forum members will go to on here for someone they have never met. I was given a TV by a generous soul on here and people have offered to buy me things and let me pay them back. Where else would you find that?

    This then is meant as a reflection and an homage. Not only to how great this place is and the people who make it great but also as a reflection. Think of the people you have 'met' on here. I couldn't recognise anyone in the street but I would do more for a good member of this forum than many of the 'real' people I know. Look back on the interactions you have had with members here. I hope you have had certain fuzzy experiences that make you feel the way I do - as part of a faceless group who share a passion for a creative and innovative industry.

    In summary, thanks to all and I hope the blogs are succesful - I want to hear what everyone has to say.
    Last edited by ItsThere; 13-11-2007, 13:33.

    #2
    The trading forums are brilliant, one of the best parts of the site. You always get the odd one who takes the piss, but mostly you lot are a good bunch to deal with. I think our feedback section is great too, very quick and easy to search for a member, and very easy to leave feedback, hint hint.

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      #3
      I have now been at work for 13 hours. I am going to write an update about the life of a lawyer who works in computer games soon.

      I bet that has everyone salivating...

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        #4
        yeah very nice, but MORE RETRO titles would be nice, there doesnt seem to be much in that respect of late.

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          #5
          Originally posted by jimmbob View Post
          The trading forums are brilliant, one of the best parts of the site. You always get the odd one who takes the piss, but mostly you lot are a good bunch to deal with. I think our feedback section is great too, very quick and easy to search for a member, and very easy to leave feedback, hint hint.
          I don't think people quite heard you.

          Jimmyboy said it's very easy to leave feedback, hint hint!

          Yeah the trading forum is great. Even if you're selling and you know you'd get the same price for something on eBay, it's still better to sell on here. It's easier, and you know it's going to a good home.

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            #6
            So then, before I divulge any juicy details of what lawyers are doing to stop file shareres are there any objections?

            Does anyone want to hold their hand up now or raise an objection to this topic?

            I believe I can now reveal to the world who we are working for and how well it may or may not be going...

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              #7
              Originally posted by Blair View Post
              So then, before I divulge any juicy details of what lawyers are doing to stop file shareres...
              Are they bringing back hanging?

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                #8
                Originally posted by jimmbob View Post
                Are they bringing back hanging?
                Yes - by the financial balls.

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                  #9
                  Why are lawyers taking it upon themselves to stop file sharing? Surely it's nothing to do with them? I may have to lodge a complaint about all this with my mate at the Law Society

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by ChrisField View Post
                    Why are lawyers taking it upon themselves to stop file sharing? Surely it's nothing to do with them? I may have to lodge a complaint about all this with my mate at the Law Society
                    Ok just to clarify - Lawyers WHO TAKE INSTRUCTIONS FROM CLIENTS - eg Square Enix, Codemasters, Capcom, Microsoft, Sony etc who are all beginning to instruct legal council in order to protect their respective revenue streams.

                    Chris - you'll have more success lodging a complaint as a customer than using your friend who is a lawyer, and you should know that the bodies have split now, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority punishes us, the Law Society protects us. :P

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by Blair View Post
                      Ok just to clarify - Lawyers WHO TAKE INSTRUCTIONS FROM CLIENTS - eg Square Enix, Codemasters, Capcom, Microsoft, Sony etc who are all beginning to instruct legal council in order to protect their respective revenue streams.
                      Ah, makes more sense. Yep, definitely be interested to know where the companies are going with this.

                      Chris - you'll have more success lodging a complaint as a customer than using your friend who is a lawyer, and you should know that the bodies have split now, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority punishes us, the Law Society protects us. :P
                      Well his new email address ends in legalcomplaints.org.uk (was lawsociety.org.uk) so whichever section that is. Last time I spoke to him he was investigating solicitors

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                        #12
                        Another name change? Someone please stop the madness.

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                          #13
                          Yes my name has changed. For confidentiality and in case anyone who isn't a regular here happens on in and decides that I am being defamatory - I figured it was for the best.

                          So it may or may not surprise anyone to find out that some solicitors are receiving instructions from game designers, producers or basically anyone who holds any relevant IP in the game reltated world.

                          The basis of this follows certain judgements which are very bad for anyone who uses Leech/Seed tech to 'share' files.

                          Essentially where there is a de-centralised database with no level of administrative control over content, the creators of that database have absolved themselves of any responsibility for anything that users put on it.

                          Think of it as the KazaaV2 model, a simple search engine that allows people to upload whatever they want.

                          As most people are probably aware when you are downdloading a bitTorrent file you are usually required to upload data at the same time as downloading it.

                          Game companies, full of tech-heavy personnel are aware of this and they now believe they can fine individual downloaders. They are more than likely to win in the instance where someone id uploading at the same time.

                          Of further concern - and perhaps more importantly - there have been a few test cases that I am aware of where the contents of someones hard drive and internet history has been admissible in evidence in court.

                          Apart from any concerns anyone might have about data protection, my biggest concern is that the judiciary does not understand how modern technology works.

                          Being that English law is based on an adversarial system, it is up to someones advocate/barrister to explain it to the judge on their behalf. I therefore believe that judges will err on the side of caution when it comes to file sharing and computer games.

                          Games are subject to more IP protection than music and therefore there are more rights to infringe. Consequently someone who happens to download a few iso's or ROM's without permission could in theroy be slapped with the same fine as a serial uploader who was using other peoples property to fund criminal activity (exaggeration but possibility).

                          The current legal system needs a shake up - it is too slow to respond to technological chnages (e-commerce Directive in the EU implemented in late 2002 anyone?) and some individuals may be forced to feel the brunt of this, financially at least.

                          As a final thought I have to add that all the above is what happens if an alleged file sharer decides to fight an action against him. Currently anyone accused of this can just pay the relevant company a sum of money to go away. The current cost of that chain of correspondence with a well known Engligh dev?

                          £800 + VAT.

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                            #14
                            Morning all.

                            Had a long day yesterday and thought a bit of gaming would help me out.

                            No. Not at all. Very frustrating - bad day for the 360 and that is unusual for me.

                            PGR4 - crashed when accessing Xbox live. Twice.
                            CoD4 - got killed a million times in the same spot because I am rubbish at war.
                            VF5 - lost every bout online due to lag. Never experienced any before yesterday.

                            At that point I decided I didn't care and went to bed with Zelda. Awesome. Not that challenging but not too easy. It really picks up quickly. Oh and nothing crashed or was rubbish about it.
                            Good old Link, even if I do have to point where I want you to go - I think it removes a certain feeling of association with the avatar. You aren't Link anymore.

                            No - if you play Phantom Hourglass you're a fairy. Make of that what you will.

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                              #15
                              I think your problems with Live yesterday were down to it being updated, and then subsequently becoming extremely broken. Lots of reports of it on the net I had problems with COD4 too, also down to being bad at war

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