Peppermint_M

I am thinking of getting a PS3 for Blu-Ray and new Final Fantasy games, however I am not sure about the backwards compatibility (I am a bit stuck in the late 91s/early 00s for tv console gaming) what are the different types of PS3 like? At the moment I'm thinking of getting a player and a PSone... Also: There are but two games on PSP I want, FFVII Crisis Core and Dissidia (I see a pattern emerging here...) are there any other games that might be worth getting and therefore worth getting another console on top of my DS (I like Another Code, Pokemon and Guilty Gear on DS). Any Ideas?

Liberi Fatali. How I love that music.

It was an art project. It had no artistic value, it was made merely to be contraversial.

At least its this year. Two days after my birthday... hmm might be on holiday but I will be able to see it. Ponyo (the new Ghibli film) isn't out until April 2010 here, so at least 9 is only about the usual...

Please, is there any news on it's UK release date? My father reckons that he has seen somthing of it advertised somewhere, but he may have just confused it with something else. The internet isn't really helping (all I found was a huge pile of animated feature films that bombed so bad on their US release that we never got to see them in the UK...). So any ideas?

Happens all the time. Quite a few "sets" are a mix of bootleg Lego, Megablocks and Best-Lock bricks/designs/elements then you often times have OXFORD ripoffs. These elements all get replicated by other bootleggers or they start trading under a new name wheh the authorities catch up. Some brands seem to have links to the official companies however, and may just be a name for the English speaking world due to language/prior copyright holders of the name. its just these bootlegs aren't clone brands, they're rip-offs. Edit: Just noticed. I have that exact set but in Black and the police have riot vests, gas masks and beretts and a selection of weaponry. Bought at christmas from Wilkinson's an "everything" shop chain (small amount of groceries, hair dye, soft furnishings, DIY, Toys, Brewing gear...etc). I am planning on getting the larger sets this year and doing a review.

That seems to be a mix of Lego and Best-Lock clone. Some Lego prints and a Best-Lock design (if not OXFORD). Pretty decent Tank, modern military isn't really my thing (unless I can add some pulp awesome to create Dieselpunk) Good find.

Sorry, I do review a few clones, I just like to compare things (I have refrained from posting my little town made of clone brands, although it is only a fire station at the moment) I also have to warn that I will be adding some more near Christmas when the clone brands pop up more often.

Heh, remember friends, here any brand that isn't Lego is a dirty word. I shall now post more fully about these "Enlighten": Enlighten are full on Bootleg bricks, any elements they use that aren't the same as Lego have been stolen from Cobi/Bestlock or OXFORD. Their set designs are also pinched from Lego's back catalogue. I think I explained my defenition of Clone and of Bootleg but I shall repeat: A Clone is a set that uses brick based construction to create unique building sets on a variety of themes : Best-Lock has TOWN, GIRL, PIRATE, ARMY and DINOSUARS plus Hummer. Cobi has Maclaren Mercedes, Romans vs Barbarians, Pirates, Small Army and Jeep. Oxford seems to make a great line of Korean history and some landmarks. Megablocks is well known. These brands aren't Lego and they sometimes have a sligtly lower quality than the brand we know and love. However these clones are cheaper to buy and have interesting themes (some which Lego won't do or have not done yet) and some elements unique to the brand that Lego do not have. I buy clones and build with them, I use their unique elements with my Lego (if it fits well). Bootlegs, like Brick and Enlighten are completely stolen. Their elements are taken from a variety of sources and set designs from Lego more often than not. They use brand confusion to shift their wares and are often very good clones of a set(I have a "Power Racer" and it looks just like the Lego set). Those sets look very nice and are cheaper but I don't like to buy 'em because of their illegality. Ho hum, just my "Two Cents"

Hi, quick heads up: Most users hate clones and bootlegs. Some users (like my self) are ok with them, but we chat about them in the Community Forum. I am sure a mod can move this topic there or merge it with an older one? I find Enlighten a bit off myself, because it is a clear Lego rip-off (steals set designs etc) but it is a cheaper option to the real deal... I prefer clones to rips. By the By, Why don't you head over to "Hello! My name is.." forum and introduce yourself? Edit: Many added things

Nothing came out right so far. I have tried a few modifications but I need to find the best kind of clay (plastic, paper, Sculpey, or just careful work with PVA glue...) I found my first few tries crumbled off the ABS. I did use the old heads for holding hair when I paint it, and for keeping armour when I am sanding it smaller.

First Question MAC or PC? If it MAC I can't help (I have no truck with Apple products) As for PC, my families has had all sorts of graphics and audio driver issues. If you go to Control Panel and select "Classic View" (on XP and Vista OS-es) there should be an option marked 'Device Manager' you can check if the speakers are all correct in there. There is also a 'Sound' option in the Control Panel. One of those should lead to the option of checking the drivers and re-installing any missing ones. If those two don't assist, take a note of the exact problem and see if there are any computer savvy chaps you know who can give you exact step by step instructions and demonstrate the fix (That is how I fixed our PC, local independant Computer Repair shop with a very helpful owner who showed me exactly how to fix it).

Note to all: This is one picture of one set that might not even be final. Go take a look at the prelim picture thread and see what I mean. There are at least a small set, a medium-ish set, a large set and maybe even a giant set to be seen, plus maybe an impulse.

Broken parts get thrown out depending on damage:rarety ratio. Bad minifig parts are kept for modification. I have a box full of non-Lego construction toys I call the Monkey Box. It keeps my friend off of my collection and is ready for small children who demand to play Lego.

Well, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea kicked of a love of SpecFic so I read Around the World in 80 Days and would read more if I can find volumes to match my illustrated tome. I realised that I missed The Traction City books out of the list. Phillip Reeve wrote them and I first read them in the school library (where I hid at lunch), they are richly detailed and have an interesting premise and it is great fun to see the characters mis-interpret our stuff (Seedy = CD and is a "decorative medallion"). Funnily enough in one of the books there are brothers called Lego and Duplo. I also loved Good Omens, I can't remember if I picked it up for either or both writers (it all depends if I had read The Sandman series by then or not... I can't recall). Very funny book. I have lots and lots of books, but only one bookshelf, the rest are in a boxes in the loft. I am always adding to my collection as I love second hand books and if one catches my eye I will buy it. I think when I move out I will have at least two bookcases worth of books right away (with exponential increase). As for manga and comics, I listed those in my What Comics do you Like thread

Jules Verne (Doc Brown names his sons after then in BttF 3) That is the most amazing book. It is the reason I read today. When I was small, I was a very poor reader, I wrote backwards (the letters were formed as perfectly as any 4 year olds, but mirror imaged and from right to left...) and couldn't read a word. I hated it and it frustrated me so much. Well, one day at my Grancha's house (great grandfather) I saw a book with a gold submarine embossed on the cover and wanted a look. It was a magnificent illustrated copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and he said I could have it. From that point on I was determined to be able to read so I could read a book with such amazing pictures in. At age seven/eight reading clicked. At age 9 my teachers assessed me as having a reading age of 14... I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and I still treasure the copy I own. *nostalgia*

Sets that would appeal to girls I know (a gaggle of 10 year olds): Pet Shop, Vet, Pony Center, something classical princes-ey. Fairy Tales but in normal Lego not Bellville (they have polly pocket for those sort of doll figures). A sort of garden or park series, flowerbeds, park keeper, fountain. Things like that.

Well, I have to say that if you like the host club (not my cup of tea, I prefer the SF and Fantasy manga...) Paradise Kiss is a good series, all the books are out there somewhere and it isn't too huge a series.

Arg, I can't get to Swindon this year, maybe next time I hope to have something to show too.

Have to say I have never had that issue. My grandparents are all really proud and keep telling me what an excellent career I chose (Civil Engineering). Out on site I get lovely old chaps coming over to find out what the council are doing in the area and always end with a "It's lovely to see a young lady in this profession" There were six of us on the course in uni. I guess it depends on the area you live in.

Yes, I am aware there is a "What Are You Reading?" thread, however that isn't really the place to spend time discussing the books you love, the books that influence you, the books you can never be without and the stalwart favourites that entertain you again and again. As per my other media topics: Please post about your favourite books. It can be a list, a brief synopsis or an opinion, why you like it and anything else you think would be pertinent. Please no bashing, flaming or trolling each other. We all have likes and dislikes that extend to books, but we are all different. You can venture an opinion if it is civil (but not kindling for a flame war). Please no deep discussions on religion, politics or war. They are subjects of books and books are the basis for at least one of them, however this subject always seems to cause unpleasantness and hurt feelings. You can mention you like a religious/political book, or that it has affected you greatly but try not to set it up as so much dry wood and anyone else who sees it, don't light the flames, remember we are adults and everyone is allowed an opinion so long as they don't force it on others. Now that the ground rules have been laid... I adore the Discworld books, I have favourites but I like them all greatly. The satire in the series and the characters are very entertaining. The Jurisfiction and Nursery Crime books by Jasper FFord are also fantastic, they expertly lampoon literature tropes and give the classics a good kicking for the fun of it. Heinlein is one of my favourite writers and I read any of those. Hard Science and good characterisation. Garth Nix's Old Kingdom trilogy and short story are great YA fantasy novels with a richly detailed world and likeable characters. I can't wait for the next two he predicted to be ready next year and the year after. Kenneth Opple is another favourite, I adore his Airship books, Airborn, Skybreaker and Starclimber (which I have yet to read apart from the promo first chapter, but is on its way from Canada to me). Dianna Wynn Jones is also another author who appeals to me even though the books are aimed at children. I just love her characters and the dialogue. So. What do you guys like?

I can't even see the chalk. So much stuff is only open to the US.... As long as the film comes out in the 9/9/09 in the uk. As long as the film comes out in the 9/9/09 in the uk. As long as the film comes out in the 9/9/09 in the uk. As long as the film comes out in the 9/9/09 in the uk. If I keep saying it, it might be true. I really want to see it.

Attatched. I really need to find a decent photo server beyond facebook (no dynamic images!) This is me, just the other week. However I have since had my hair cut and the picture is of me in my signature hat (six years of that style of hat and counting) so you can't see much of my face... Maybe I can get some better ones at my friends party at the end of the month.

BBC2 is the channel it plays on. Not sure when in the year?

Of course Lego are on a cycle! Every two years another group of kids are able to play with lego, those who missed the older version can get the new one! Last years sets disappear very quickly (Impulses and liscenced themes are the only ones with "staying power" to stick around in shops a bit longer). So if they want a fire station but were still 'stuff everything in your mouth' age when one was in shops, this new one will be for them. It happens in lots of things. Stuff moves in cycles.