DS or PSP for ME?
 

Okay - see title for ME

So this is NOT a battle b/w the two of them and please don't trash my topic and start arguing on that


Let's start of by saying I have a PC, PS, PS2... I play most commonly on the PS2- BUT don't let that automatically direct you to the PSP.

I'm a 24 year old female gamer and I'm an RPG lover. Now I need some advice on which of the two to choose. I know you can say "well just go look at the gaming library". I have to be honest with you I have NOT followed any news on either systems, am illiterate when it comes to their features (if you wanna give me a brief bullet point on what their features or direct me somewhere that'll be awesome) and GAMES - yes I only know of a few games on each system.

So that's where you guys come.... what I'm looking for is the system that has the better RPGs + more mature games on it. Dun get me wrong I do enjoy younger audience games like KH... Dissidia: Final Fantasy looks awesome but I can't let that one game get to my head.

So given my preferences what do you think I would prefer? Also can you recommend games that I can look into for whatever choice you have for me...?

Appreciate all the help/feedback I can get

Again this isn't a system war... I honestly just want to buy a handheld system.

Despite the rarity of mature games on the DS, for YOU, I think DS is the best choice. You have a lot of great RPG's to play on it, not to mention all the Final Fantasys that are on the Gameboy Advance. Disgaea DS just came out about a month ago, and I believe Chrono Trigger is being released for the DS as well... that alone should make you choose DS. Another game that got raving reviews from critics and fellow gamers is "The World Ends With You"... that sounds up your alley as well.

P.S. - Zelda... ez choice.

If you're a big RPG lover, around 240 lbs., I would recommend getting a DSlite. That's what I did (though I have both, well my brother owns the PSP but I still play it). Though the DS does lack "mature" games, if mature you mean blood gore and violence, it's complimented by the wide range of games you can play (especially RPGs). Bottomline, get a DS if you want to play a lot of good games, get a PSP if you want a multipurpose handheld with a small number of good games (especially RPGs).

I recommend a DSlite. Or you can wait for the DSi next year.

It depends on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.

Out of the box, the NDS has way more RPGs. Zelda, Mario RPG, Final Fantasy, it has them all. Also, the ability to play GBA games is also nice.
The system goes for 129.99, although that may drop as the NDSi comes out. NDSi has a camera, downloadable content and a few other things. So you MIGHT want to wait for that although I think that will be more expensive (170ish I heard in japan?).

The PSP has few RPGs and many are remakes from the PS1. However, if you are willing to play with the firmware, you can download NES, SNES, GBA, and PS1 RPGs. Emulation for PS1, and GBA is decent. SNES is OK...has some issues but that may be all but taken care of now. NES is decent.

With all that being said, from how you introduced the matter in your post, I would lean towards the NDS. The PSP has SOME RPGs but not many and there aren't many coming out in the near horizon.

You're better off with the DS seeing as how a large chunk of the PSPs gaming library are PS2/PS1 ports last time I checked. With the DS you have access to a large selection of RPGs especially if you include the GBA games. PSP doesn't have a previous system to expand your game library from.

The only real reason I could see to choose a PSP as an RPG gamer is if you wanted to get the remake of Valkyrie Profile 1, which is an excellent game.

Get a DS. Lots of 'em (RPG) in there as well as action-RPGs (which I think you don't like, at all).

Except that it's the port of the Japanese version, which means Lenneth can't change her abilities and skills when she gets the sword in the final boss of the A ending, hooray!

Doesn't make it less awesome though.

I'm going to buy me a DS for Christmas. For one reason: Chrono Trigger :p

Sounds like you might want to just get both eventually. DS slaughters the PSP along with the current shit fest of consoles when it comes to RPGs, but PSP definitely has more post-apocalyptic angry men shooting sperm guns everywhere.

For every dark matoooore title on the DS there's about 80 Imagine Cringing games.

Does anyone EVER follow the advice people give them in these threads, because every time I see one, people end up making up their own minds in the end. These tend not to help with indecision.

DS RPGs Worth Buying -

Already released:
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
Final Fantasy III
Lunar Knights
Pokemon Pearl/Diamond
Heroes of Mana
Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
The World Ends With You
Summon Night: Twin Age
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard
Final Fantasy IV
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen.

Coming soon:
Dragon Quest IX: Protectors of the Sky
Chrono Trigger DS
Mario & Luigi RPG 3
Xenosaga I & II
Tales of Hearts
Valkyrie Profile: The Accused One
etc.

And it's not an RPG by any means, but ELITE BEAT AGENTS.

'nuff said.

Xenosaga wasn't announced for a US release though. Or is there a translation in the works I'm not aware of? Oh, don't miss out on Soma Bringer either. There's a translation done by DarthNemesis for it that's 97% as of today. It's diablo-esque rpg that's made by Monolith Soft (Xenosaga people), with awesome Mitsuda music. If you have a CycloDS/R4DS you can patch the game and play it. I think it's the best rpg on the DS by some margin. Here's a link to the translation patch.

http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=78947

@Leprenigger
Just making a quick note here - I will have further questions later on. But I DO listen to advice given here simply because I don't know a thing about handheld consoles. I'm not responding as I would because happens to be that I got 3 final exams next week and since I didn't look into everything I didn't want to sound stupid. *sigh*


Big majority there - like that since it obviously tells me the DS has more to offer for me.


One thing that bothers me is FFVII Crisis Core and Dissidia <....< However, I'm thinking Chrono Trigger is coming on the DS and I loved Chrono Cross. Also I always wanted to try out a Zelda games since I've never had the pleasure of playing them ^^

I got a suggestion for DS Lite or to wait for DSI and since this isn't a "spec" forum I also wanna look into those later.

In terms of "mature-ish/more serious" action/adventure games how does the DS rank?


PS. Thanks to all those who responded with suggestions ^^

Well, you won't find grimdark stuff on the DS (only Dementium and Resident Evil Deadly Silence come to mind), but its best games are hardly immature or childish if that's what you're worried about.

Also, Dissidia hasn't much in terms of RPG content. With your description, it's not a very good reason to be interested in the PSP.


And what Skills meant was that we've had a fair share of "which one should I buy?" threads, whether it's consoles or games and each time regardless of the posts, the thread maker already had pretty much made up their minds about which one they picked.

So perhaps you really are looking for advice instead.

I own both machines and I too would recommend getting DS Lite. It is a lovely piece of equipment and the better gaming machine. It's not a very good 3D machine, but the developers are making better and better visuals on it and as a 2D machine it's wonderful. Even if you are an RPG fan, I recommend playing the non-RPG ones as well (Advance Wars Dual Strike, Phoenix Wright games, Another Code, Hotel Dusk, Contra 4, Bangai-O Spirits) as they're all quite fantastic. And there's the GBA backlog as well, especially Link to the Past and Minish Cap if you're looking for good entry titles to the wonderful, wonderful Zelda series.

PSP has a bunch of excellent games (Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins, Wipeout Pure, LocoRoco, Patapon, Lumines, Exit), but people mostly buy it to hack it and put emulators on it, which is a bit silly since a softmodded Xbox1 runs emulation better and costs less. It plays music (which I use it for a lot), but you'll need a decent sized memory stick.

The XBox1 plays PSP games? That's a new one to me.

However, it should be noted that you can't even buy a new XBox anymore...

@Qwarky appreciate your other non-RPG recommendations too

K I pretty much think the DS it is... any clues on when the DSi comes out? *considering waiting for it since this semester = 4311 on earth and doubt I'd get much time to play* - I found "late 2009" - hope not >......< (but then again I'm not fully up to date with the TGS)

Not any time soon over here. If you wait, I don't doubt that you'll again become indecisive and either bump or remake the thread, though. If you're gonna buy the Lite, just pick it up. It's not that pricey, and it can sit there for a bit if you end up being busy.

So far I don't see anything in the DSi to really interest me. A camera is something I won't need in my portable console, I don't even need it in my cell phone. The downloadable content sounded nice, but then I heard it's region locked so there goes that one since I live in Europe.

Most of all, it does away with the GBA slot, so think carefully if you want to try out many of the great GBA titles and RPGs. I say you're getting more gaming value with a Lite.

One thing I want you to keep in mind in waiting for the DSi is that it will not be able to play GBA games if you are interested in that. On the other hand it might have good downloadable software that is exclusive to it but I wouldn't bet the farm that they aren't gimmicky Brain Age touch generation garbage. So keep in mind that you'll be losing the ability to play GBA games if you wait for a DSi. Speaking of waiting you'll have to keep your eyes on the horizon as Reggie (Nintendo of America president) doesn't plan on bringing it over well into 2009 as opposed to Japan who is getting it this November. Oh don't think about importing one from Japan either because its DSi is region-locked for its interface and exclusive software.

Right, so you can wait forever and a half for the DSi expected to cost near 200 bucks or get a DS lite for cheap right now and perhaps nab a CycloDS to further your savings by not having to buy into a game library that honestly doesn't require further support for its stagnating efforts.

Additional Spam:
Skills er... leprenigger also brings up a good point that the DSi has crap battery life compared to the DS lite.

Is that a justification for piracy outside of "I'm a cheap shit"? Because seriously Acer.

I don't have a problem with it, but let's not sugar coat what it actually is, dude.

And the notion that games like Contra 4 and Bangai-O Spirits don't "require further support" makes me see Acer in an even worse light :(

Oh let's not. I like being cheap. However, it's true that the majority of games on both platforms are complete garbage.

And anyway I see a girl who largely doesn't pay attention to gaming as it were. Any of these games that we suggest will probably be in a bargain bin, used, or in whatever form that won't be any benefit to whoever made the game. She's obviously a student and could use any money she can hold on to so I made a suggestion that would be in keeping of that.

Hey, if you like or want to support a particular game and want to see more games like it then feel free to buy it. For the couple games that I do enjoy a lot I buy a copy. But just to spit in your face I'm not buying Contra 4 or Bangai-O Spirits because I simply don't give a shit about those games.

The fact that she's well known to be an idiot doesn't change the fact that your massive generalization of don't-support-the-thing-at-all as a solution to fix the shovelware issue is both retarded and a convenient excuse to make yourself look like you're taking a stance against the issue instead of just trying to save yourself a few bucks.

I don't see why it's so hard to see it as being both. But sure go ahead. I'll be your cowboy up to no good if you like.

Just tell me how punishing the developers of the quality titles sends the message that you want more of that and less of the crap, because I don't see it.

Buying used games = developers have already gotten the money from someone else, you can't show the developers direct support because when you buy used games your money goes directly to the retailer (usually GameStop) and never further than that.

If a game is still new and available and you know you want to support that game then that is a different story. You can buy that game and commit a sale that actually goes into the tally that publishers get to see and that usually determines if developers get the support to make another good game and possibly a good game like the one you supported.

For instance even if I did care about Contra 4 the likelihood that I'd find a copy unused is pretty fucking low. How the fuck am I punishing a developer by not buying it? For one I don't care about that game but assuming you convinced me that I must have that game it's already too late to show support for the developer. Any copies I'll find to buy will be unheard by their publisher.


So should I play Contra 4 on my CycloDS or go to GameStop and buy a used copy for 20 bucks it's about the same in supporting developers in that it doesn't support developers at all. Just in one situation I'm not giving GameStop money. :birthday:

Since when were we discussing used sales instead of flat out piracy? Because I missed the part where we jumped from one sinking ship to the other.

I dunno. The part about being a cheap ass maybe.

Also, you've yet to show how I'm punishing developers for making good games.

Flat out stealing quality works isn't exactly a good way of encouraging their creation, y'know. Voting with your wallet and all that. Why is this a difficult concept to grasp?

Look. I understand the desire to want something for free. All I ask is that you don't pretend you're fucking Robin Hood about it. You're stealing video games for your own personal use, for fuck's sake.

How can you encourage their creation when they see no direct feedback from a purchase? Did you miss the part about a title not being available in stores still new which when purchased actually counts towards the SOLD GAMES tally? Used games don't go into that since they've already been put into the count by the person who originally purchased it who more likely than not wasn't you. You fart in their general direction, blow a kiss, or erect a statue made of sweet corn in their honor it'll mean the same jack shit to them that buying a used game or not buying a used game at all in terms of giving them a pat on the back for their good efforts.

See, I think you're missing the point I'm making. You can only support these guys when you buy a new game that counts as a sale where the publishers and developers then get money. If I know I'm going to like a game on the DS or have played a DS game on the Cyclo that I enjoyed and full well know it is still available for purchase NEW AND UNUSED and that I can say hay Capcom ^5 or hay Nintendo ^5 or hay Sega ^5 or hay god forbid EA ^5 with them actually receiving my ^5 of cash I'd certainly then purchase said game and then fling it into the pile.

You've still yet to show how I'm punishing developers for making good games.

I was the only person on Earth to buy Chronos Twins, and I sent the developers a love letter and some photos of me dry humping the box, now they're making a game with the best name ever!

The point of this story is tha-holy fuck you get to fight Santa!

http://i34.tinypic.com/mmflfn.png

Infernal, you've created a monster. <3

For fuck's sake Acer, stop backpeddling and trying to change the direction of the argument away from the direct piracy topic. When you directly bring up the Cyclo, that's kinda the point being discussed. Why you're harping on used sales when I've repeatedly stated that's NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN THE LEAST is starting to make me wonder if Lix has jacked your account sometime in the last two days in a poor attempt at trolling.

Also, both Contra and Bangai-O are available new from online retailers like Amazon, and a majority of titles this dumb bitch will want to play are still available as such. You're suggesting this woman immediately buy a flash card and start stealing whatever the fuck she wants to save a few bucks. Be it widely available or not.

You've also suggested that I was correct in my assumption that your stance is "don't-support-it-at-all" to fight what you think is a stagnating library.

So, taking those two points together, it seems relatively logical that you're suggesting that none of the software deserves support, regardless of if it's considered quality or not.

The suggestion that quality software deserves to be stolen instead of purchased just because you're thinking the entire platform has a crap library is indeed punishing them for their effort. Rocket science?

But you've backpedalled pretty hard with "lol I would have bought it if I liked it; USED GAMES ETC" so even I'm having trouble understanding what you're trying to say at this point. All I'm saying is the pirate-holier-than-thou attitude is bullshit and you know it.

I can't tell if this is a 0/10 or a 10/10 troll, Acer. But it's one or the other.

Do you have a problem with people like myself (as in, those that will never buy a new copy unless it's cheaper than a used copy) pirating?

I have a bit of a problem with that, especially if you have the money and want the game, but are too cheap to actually spend money on it. If you don't think the game is worth its price at launch then wait until it's price is reduced to a point that you are happy to pay. If, however, you pirate on day one because you want to play the game but don't want to spend money, then yeah, that's a bit off and if you're happy with what that is then so be it.

But the issue Skills has with Acer's original statements is that it he attempts to justify piracy and make it sound like a "hey, it's OK to do this" sort of deal, which it isn't. We get that it happens, and in some cases it wasn't a lost sale anyway, but don't act like you're Mr Cool Guy by pirating.

I agree understand Acer's point that used games don't see profit going back to the devs/publisher, but I disagree that that's a good enough reason to justify piracy.

I pirate games first and then buy those which I like later, when they're in the bargain bin. I make no excuses. Am I a bad person?

Yes.

Now go take a good look at yourself in the mirror.

And masturbate.

τετέλεσται

These days it's incredibly rare for me to be so bothered about a game that I must have it on launch day so I always wait a week and pick up the inevitable second hand copy for a fiver less. According to one of the guys who works in one of the GAME shops in town, there's a few achievement whores in town who buy games on release date, run through all the easy achievements then take them back within the week. Quite why they don't just rent the games is beyond me but it saves me money so who cares frankly?

That said, I don't think I have a single pirated game. One or two abandonware ones but I think God will forgive me for those.

The fact you feel the need to ask the question speak volumes about how you view your own actions, and how they would be perceived.

Shin: I'd much rather someone spend money on used-games than resort to piracy.

See whilst Acer's argument is that because used games don't see money going back to the devs it's OK to pirate, what that argument handily skips over is that it potentially hurts consumers. See if everyone took that attitude then stores would no longer offer money for used games which means they wouldn't take trade-ins, which for quite a few people (especially kids) is one of they key ways they can get money towards new titles (new titles which do contribute to their developers).

Shhh... stop ruining my fun by pointing out the obvious. But okay really yeah jerk move on my part to suggest a poor college student who doesn't give a shit about gaming to save some money. I'll leave it up to her if she takes the suggestion, does what I do and test waters for games I'm on the edge with and some actual developer monetary gain bullshit argument like me, or be a complete pirate.

Ah, whenever I look for titles on Amazon they're usually used. Didn't even think about checking for online retail, so I'm sorry if wrong on those two but I was just using them as an example of games I remember not seeing new and available at my local Best Buy and GameStop stores.

Honestly this is just me being a bit pissy at Nintendo for not releasing/showing off an actual successor to the DS.

Nope, that statement was in the context of my suggestion for a Cyclo on my assumption that she's a poor college student who doesn't really care all that much about gaming and my indifference if she supports it or not.

Oh yeah, HEY EVERYBODY GO STEAL SOFTWARE. THAT'S MY MANTRA. WAVING MY JOLLY ROGER OVER HERE. FREE SOFTWARE YA YA YA. YOU BOY IN THE STREET. ARE YOU PLAYING POKEMON? YOU LIKE IT? FUCK YOU GO TO THE INTERNET AND DOWNLOAD THAT SHIT. I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU GIVING MONEY TO THE MAAAN AGAIN. NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY TO TREASURE. NO NO NO NO.

I do what I will with my pirating. I tell people that I know who I suggest getting a Cyclo that hey it can save you some good money but I'm not going to stop you if you want to then go buy a physical copy of a game you liked and if they don't want to then that's fine too. Potentially, a good angelic consumer can benefit from the Cyclo if they just want to use it as an all in one device so they don't have to carry 20 little cartridges on their person.

Fuck you, I'm super serious here, guy. Rooting for a -10/10 myself actually. Help me out, Skills. We can get there if we work together.

Sometimes I just feel like being a jerk to a developer because I still got a bit of fanboy faggotry stuck in my veins. It's a stupid stance and it's unjustified but I get my rocks off anyway in my own little world. Sometimes... sometimes... I play games by Square Enix on my Cyclo just because I'm disappointed by their lack of support of good games on the console front (mainly Wii because I'm a crass act like that) and this is my way at getting back at them oh ho ho ho. For instance I won't be buying Chrono Trigger but goodness I'll give it a shot and god willing get to that super special extra dungeon they're giving us.

I'm not going to act like the repentant sinner to the Church of Skills either. He's still yet to prove how I'm punishing developers for making good games. Although I've given him a great example in the above. Brownie points! :cmb:

No, it's not a good justification. Hardly any are but I like giving excuses anyway. I just don't like it when someone says I'm punishing a developer by not buying used games because they are wrong. I can't punish a developer by buying used games or by not buying used games. I'll concede that I'm probably not helping developers by pirating their games that I only find used in stores and I'm not completely justified and it serves as a pretty wishwashy excuse.

The worst thing as a gamer you could possibly do is find a game you know is going to be awesome and you yourself say oh man this game was made for me and I appreciate what the developers have made oh baby yeah gonna go pirate this day one and never give them a cent. In situations like that I try not to do that. Professor Layton for example. I fucking love games that are similar in nature to those of old adventure click n' play classic LucasArts/Sierra variety. I still have Layton in shrink wrap. I play it in my Cyclo though. I've paid for both Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney 2 and 3 from Capcom's online store but never fucking received them. I feel complete and utterly justified in playing those games on my Cyclo DS.

Yes. :)

Never thought about it that way because I try to make sound purchases when I buy my games so I almost always keep my games. I've only sold some games to Gamestop once and those were some shitty EA games I'd been given that I never wanted that were gathering dust and taking up space. Well gee in that regards my apologies to little Jimmy for any unintended ill will. However, if my severe lack of game returns is any indications I think GameStop will live on just fine.

OK, it's fairly evident that some crossed wires are at play between Acer and Skills, and it seems by and large you're on the same page (mostly), just Acer was talking about the option being there if someone so chooses to do it.

Because Square Enix are the only ones failing to put out decent games on the Wii right?... Oh wait, oops.

Square Enix is just one case. I play favorites like anyone else might on what companies I like, so Square Enix is not the only one I do that silly business to. For example my evil eye is always looking at Konami for not doing more with Goemon over here.

And also you pretty much get me. I LOVE options. I'd like to think I do have some scruples though.

No. I just have a problem with people who think they're doing it for reasons outside of "I'm cheap". No one's fighting the man. Like I said earlier, no one here is Robin Hood. The earlier statements last page certainly made it seem like that's how some people viewed themselves. This's a site that's got a lot of piracy ties. Would I be here if I cared about that? There were some bullshit excuses made earlier, and now they're being corrected, so.

After finally getting an explanation for it though, I finally see what Acer truly meant last page. Would have been nicer half an argument ago instead of diverting off into how much buying second hand blows but eh, what can you do. Shit happens.

Besides, I did explain the punishment statement, around thirty four times but I guess Acer just doesn't see it that way. :(

That's the sort of thing I meant, see. Hopefully no more posts about "YOU HAVE YET TO SAY ANYTHING" now.

Edit: That above sort of thing was the entire basis of my complaint and argument. That's what's horseshit. None of this other reasoning.

k. I'm putting my $0.02 here.

The reason why I pirate isn't just because I don't have the money (at the time) to buy games. Hell, most people who know me know that I do buy games. Sometimes I have a disc based game that just wont run anymore (DDR 5th mix comes to mind) and are generally unplayable. Most would think "okay, if it's ruined so much, buy another copy." Well, I would but it's out of print or unobtainable through an easier set of means. So just incase, I made a copy beforehand.

Another example would be that I want to test out the game before it comes out, in english. There are no readily availible reviews out for the game at the moment, so I can't get an opinion on how good it is. Example would be any Atlus game out there. Most are limited print runs and aren't availibe in my area (hell, alot of the stores in my area don't carry alot of Atlus stuff when it does come in as it is, so...), so I just download it, check it out, and purchase it online, later (again, if I can).

Using the excuse "I do it 'cause I'm poor" is, actually, in rather poor taste mainly because you can fix that. I mean, you could also fix the supply issue that I have in my area for games, and you could also fix the fact that my games get ruined. I guess it all comes down to convinience sometimes. But to say I do it 'cause I'm poor is wrong. I do work, I do make money, and I do spend that money on games.

Getting back on topic. You said you were an RPG lover. The PSP has a large RPG library, compared to the DS, however the DS is starting to come back with some RPG titles.

But if you want an instant, I'd go with the PSP.

BUT SKILLS I AM ROBIN HOOD. I'M SO FIGHTING THE MAN. IT'S SO MUCH FUN. WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THIS? HURGRABLEGRBL

My diversion tactics are puddling up in excess. Yeeees this dumbass argument is for me to lose. You can't take that away from me so easily, Skills! Continue barking you sloven dog you. GRRRRR.

Being honest here. I understand full well how piracy can very directly punish developers who make good games. What you haven't explained is how I myself in my methods am punishing developers. I'm being stubborn on that point. Anyway, I use piracy as a means to an end and in a sense a filter. Please condemn me for that if you will. I suppose that further explanations have possibly cleared this up a little though.

Additional Spam:
<3<3<3 yeeeees it so much beautiful horseshit but I love doing it~ sorry skills~ *kisses*

STOP LOADING THOSE CATAPULTS WITH POOP ACER, YOU'RE SCARING THE REST OF THE CIVILIANS.

'BOUT TO GET MESSY IN HERE *crank**crank**crank*

Not aimed at Acer in particular but saying that your piracy is justified because your local store doesn't stock a game is a shitty excuse, given that just about every game from the current and last generation is available to buy online. Google product searches mean you get it cheap too.

Who actually still goes to shops anyway these days?

Not aimed an Shin but assuming that everybody can buy everything online is as just a shitty excuse as saying that you're too poor to afford games.

Who actually depends on everything online these days?
Also wow, Shin. Way to fag up a thread there.

Not everything is available online unused though. Well not always anyway. This isn't to say I don't buy used games because I do. It's just in those situations where I'd really like to support the developers but can't easily do so because I've decided to buy a game a few weeks or months after its release for whatever reason and then don't see it in stores unused that I then just give up and buy it used in the best condition I can find. I tend to go on splurges at my local GameStop so if I see a game in the store that I've heard good things about I'll get it and I usually ask if they have any new copies of games I bring up to the counter. I should probably get into preordering games online or just visiting my store with this in mind more often. Been a while since I've done that.

I give into this kind of temptation to test waters with the DS when it's this easy to pirate. However I've yet to install a modchip in a console though because I'm fucking lazy and worry I'll end up bricking the machine while soldering or through installing some dumbshit firmware update. But god damn the DS doesn't even put up a fight.

Alright, fair enough, if you somehow manage to go through life without a bank account and your local shop doesn't have a copy of the game you want and you don't know anyone in the world with a bank account who'd be willing to order the game for you in exchange for the cash and yet you're still somehow in a position to own a games console and have enough internet access to download pirate software then yeah, I can see you might have an arguement in favour of piracy but frankly, if your life's that shit then maybe playing computer games shouldn't be your priority?

Acer, I buy second hand games as much as anyone, especially online, I see nothing really wrong with that. I just think that "They didn't have it at the shop" is a rubbish excuse for stealing games.

You also assume every city in the land has a fucking Gamestop or (insert used game store here) so fucking close by it's so easy for everybody to get every fucking game in the whole entire universe.

You also think that buying from a Gamestop will solve the problem and give the developers money. No, used game sales don't go to the developers at all.

My life isn't shit, I do have a bank account. I have a job, I have everything I ever. Fucking. Wanted. You keep on assuming that people pirate because they're down and out, but man, you'll always be wrong.

Alright, you know what? I fell for your troll. You got me. I raged, I lost.

Um, what? You also completely misread what I wrote, numbnuts. What I said was, and I'll break this down nice and simple for those of you with an education sub-normal reading level:

Some people claim that they pirate because their local shop doesn't carry the games they like.

I think this is a shit excuse because pretty much everyone in the developed world has sufficient access to the internet and a means of providing payment online. This means they can buy games online where pretty much every game ever is available and thanks to Google's product search feature, it's fucking easy to find them and you can sort by price.

And that's all I said. Go back and read my posts again if you don't believe me. Nowhere did I suggest that everyone has access to a games shop and nowhere did I say that buying second hand from Gamestop helps developers. There's no such fucking thing as Gamestop in the UK for starters, in fact the only shops in the town I live that sell computer games are Tesco, Argos and Woolworths which only stock a small range of mainstream titles. As such, when I want to buy a game, I often look it up on Google and buy it off the internet, it's not rocket science.

I'm not sure exactly what your problem is or why you got so upset at my suggestion that internet shopping makes it easier to find obscure games but in future, if you're going to start fights on the internet I'd recommend you actually read the posts you're taking umbrage with before you retort or you're just going to make yourself look like a twat. Again.

Correction, there is a Gamestop in the UK. There are also multiple forms of Gamestop in the UK under the name of GAME.

It's not that I couldn't understand what you read, it's that with most of your posts, you imply something and come off as an asshole. I guess you don't see it, but I'm not the only person who does see this. Thus with the way you post, you come off as a troll.

Just like with the previous post, asshole.

Oh my problem isn't that my Gamestop doesn't have games I like it's just the situation I brought up where I'd like to directly support a developer with a purchase of a new unused copy of a game where it becomes a problem of availability and I then have to (again I'm speaking of this at the local level) buy a used game. I'll concede that if after that I go and pirate something instead it's usually becuase I'm being a cheap asshole or I don't feel it's worth spending money on a certain game/mefightingthemanbullshit and also being a cheap asshole. But like I said that usually only happens for DS games and some PC games.

Oh I see. Because I'm occasionally abrasive you automatically assume that when I make a post I somehow magically know what opinion you have on the subject and am making an unprovoked attack on your point of view so you don't bother reading what I've written and just leap to the defense of your opinion with blatant disregard for anything I might have said.

And you have the audacity to call me a troll?

Sir, you placed that assumption on me first, when you told me I was misreading your posts when I wasn't at all.

Shut up.

I'd love to see where in one of my posts you read this little golden nugget of insight.

You make it sound that's it is indeed possible to get every game from the current and last gen, on an online store on the internet (when it isn't.)

What the god damn fuck?! What shit-hole backwards fucktard staffing miniscule scale backwater stores do you go to that don't have copies of titles a few months, let alone the fucking 'few weeks' after release? That sir, is bull-fucking-shit by the truck load. I could walk out into the high street tomorrow and find brand new copies of all the launch title games for the current generation of consoles, which, if memory serves is a bit more than 'a few months'.

And even if that weren't the case, even if the store in my nearest town didn't stock new copies of the games, I could, as Shin has suggested, quite easily go online where I can find games going back more than a few years, that I can still purchase brand new copies of. I understand your point that sometimes it's hard to get copies of really old games, or platforms no longer supported, but don't try and claim some cock and bull story about your local stores not stocking titles a few weeks after release. Unless you're local store is actual a tramp with a shoebox I've seen stores in London that can barely contain more than the member of staff and one customer that have stocked titles longer than 'a few weeks'.

ness: Not to shit on your fine rant against Shin, but GameStop do not own GAME in the UK. The merger created a separate company which eventually split with a settlement, which is why GameStop are now looking to introduce stores over here.

However, my point is that you still have A GameStop store AS well as that little bit of chain you call GAME.

We also have Gamestation (owned by GAME) and probably a few other specialist stores floating about. HMV, WHSmiths, Woolworths and other retail chains also stock games, not to mention various supermarkets that tend to carry a number of games. That doesn't cover the various sites that you can also buy things from online. Now, are you going to claim that in the US you don't have at least a similar number of stores that stock games both on- and off-line?

My initial point was that GameStop here is a chain that also sells USED games, online and offline.

The only stores that you can get games BRAND NEW and not USED is big box stores, and mom and pop specialty shops. To get IMPORT games OFFLINE you had to search in specific areas, as there aren't many in any places that arent BIG CITIES. There used to be ONE SPECIFIC SHOP north of my hometown that did this, but since there weren't a high demand for rare and import games, the shop closed.

That still has nothing to do with me thinking that everyone has a Gamestop on their doorstep. Yes, I agree that I believe it possible to get pretty much every game you might want off the internet, that's exactly what I said in my post but I don't get how you make the jump from that to "You also assume every city in the land has a fucking Gamestop or (insert used game store here) so fucking close by it's so easy for everybody to get every fucking game in the whole entire universe.", it's something completely unrelated. I dunno if you're new to this whole internet lark but using the internet for shopping means that you have no need to live anywhere near a shop although I admit that having a local post service helps.

I can only guess that you're either someone who pirates games but feels bad about it and having your excuses blown open is upsetting for you, or you're in a situation where the only internet access you have is from your local Gamestop or something. Either way, sorry I upset you, it was nothing personal and now I know the situation you're in I'll steer clear of saying anything around those two subjects in any threads you might read so as not to offend you again.

I pirate because I'm a sponge. A sponge, absorbing the art and creation around me. Just think about it: the imaginations and ideas from tens, sometimes hundreds of different people, artists, have come together and are rolled into one; what we call a 'game'. It's a beautiful thing. When a group of artists release a game, they are really putting part of themselves out there, contributing themselves into a kind of ether, in which swirl the accumulated creative works of art for the entire history of humanity. Creation is meaning; ergo: the Creation Ether is the sum total of Man.

As an ape coming to terms with an existence where, if we analyse it, the natural purpose of life is just to be a slave to a bunch of genes; if I am to rise above the savage, meaningless natural order, I need to draw on this ether, absorb all art around me without limitation and feed on it until I am glutted. Then, I may understand what it means to be human.

To allow meaningless structures such as economic systems to limit my vision and understanding in this transcendent quest would be a crime against the spirit.

OK, after having spent far longer than I'd like discussing this with ness, I can see where this little ness/Shin spat has originated, and it's in error (as far as I can tell).

Shin was having a go at Acer's defense of people who pirate instead of purchasing, because they might not be able to get hold of the game, stating that it's pretty easy to get hold of a lot of things online (which it is).

ness has pirated games because they were either things he owns or things that you can't get hold of (at least not without paying excessive fees I'm guessing), which is a situation many people will agree is not bad (as it sort of forces your hand). However, because ness sees himself as falling into that group of people who pirate because they can't purchase in store on online he took the attack personally and defended the stance.

By doing so Shin sees ness as defending the same stance myself, Skills and Shin are against (saying piracy is OK because devs don't get money from used game - see my earlier argument against that point and why it's bad for the industry/consumers) and hence this little argument breaks out.

ness: I think we were at cross purposes, I get now that you were saying that GAME is a store that sells used games LIKE GameStop (rather than the implication I read, you saying that GAME was owned by GameStop, which is all I refuting in my earlier statement).

However, I still completely disagree that piracy is no worse than buying used games. It does hurt the industry, and it hurts consumers. If you find yourself needing/wanting to pirate games, fine, do whatever you like, but don't try to justify it.

(Just as an additional note: I don't consider downloading a game you already own as piracy really, since you already own it)

I wish I had your stores. I'd shop there instead. No, usually unless they are really popular titles you will only see new copies at my GameStops for two maybe three weeks. After that they don't give a shit and stock used copies they seem to inevitably get in and usually for more obscure titles they order little more than the preorders they fill out. Best Buy is an odd beast around here. Usually when I go to find something there it won't be available unless it's really popular but then a game I did want but couldn't find there my last visit is sitting in a nice stack almost laughing at me.

I'm lazy and I don't really enjoy paying shipping fees for one title. I enjoy perusing some wares at my local shoppe so sue me if I don't feel like going online afterward. I'd rather spend my time after the visit playing the games I did nab. And I like my stores just fine. I just need to preorder more often.

You win, Shin.

I have a confession to make; I pirated Hannah Montana on the DS. Despite being sent a copy to review, I traded it in the next day as it was worth a surprising amount of value! Then I played the ROM.

Then I made an unpleasant facial expression.

How often does she even tour down there? Good lord. Fucking Disney Channel.

I didn't even know who she was until I played the game. Seriously. People thought I'd been living under a rock, and I was all 'no, I'm living on one!'

Then I put my hands on my hips and laughed so much some snot blew out of my nose.