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Having just returned from two weeks in Gran Canaria, I done so baffled and amazed. I didn’t return like this due to the temperatures which climbed higher then any seen in Britain, nor did I return like this because of the great time I had abroad. The reason I came back like this was because of the state of the games industry over there and probably the way it is in many other country’s, if not worse.
Gran Canaria is part of Spain and holds millions of tourists each year. Apart from just relaxing by the pool or soaking up the sun on the beach there is many opportunities to go shopping in large shopping complexes. These shopping complexes hold many shops but mostly contain gift shops, perfume shops and electronics. Once I reached my local shopping centre I thought I could escape the street traders of their fake items and shop with comfort, but I was wrong.
Most shops were electrical shops and nearly every shop stocked video games, everything from Gameboy to Playstation 2. It didn’t matter if u were a fan of Sega or Nintendo, they had it. But behind the shops professional look and the games official packaging there was another story.
My little sister wanted a copy of Pokemon Gold for her Gameboy Color. She had been playing Pokemon Blue all holiday after leaving it gathering dust on her bedside table and just wanted more Pokemon. So, after whining and whining to my parents I was forced to go with my sister to the shopping centre to go and buy her Pokemon Gold (She didn’t want Silver, Gold was her chosen colour, selfish? I know). The number of shops that stocked the game left my mind in stalemate, making it hard to choose one. But as my sister pointed out games she liked in many shops and the staff approached us, my mind changed about the quality of the games.
Everyone in the shop just seemed so eager to sell their products, I just thought this was their way of getting you to buy from their shop, their salesmen technique. My mind suddenly clicked that the stockage may be illegal when I saw a Pokemon Blue box with a ‘Gameboy Color’ bar down the side of the box. I knew that Pokemon Red and Blue was not released bearing the ‘Gameboy Color’ name. So, I left that shop.
One shop looked promising and my sister was bugging even more now, as we could of brought it, but I was not sure. Armed with Spanish Currency I considered buying, but last minute instincts made me think again. I wanted to try before I buy.
The staff member approached me and I asked the details about the game, he spoke and spoke and didn’t let me get a word in, always going on about the price. I knew this guy didn’t know much when he gave me the wrong explanation of ‘Clock-Time’ on the games box, “Clock-Time lets you turn off your system and continue whenever you want” he stated. Clearly this was wrong as what I think he was trying to say was, simply: “You can save your game”.
At this time I knew I didn’t want to buy here and was having doubts, so as I tried to leave he stopped me and gave me the game to play as he dealt with a complaint from a customer about her game that didn’t work on her son’s Gameboy Advance. I had friends that had downloaded Pokemon Gold illegally off websites before it was released as a ROM and had seen it play. As soon as the game started I could see this game was not officially a PAL version, the Japanese title screen was displayed and when the game started the writing was definitely not the same as an official copy. Professor Oak was going on about rubbish! Before the guy came back I took a glimpse at the cartridge and saw it was not the right colour, it was a pale purple/greyish colour. Not very official and not very appealing.
I told the man I wasn’t going to take it and my sister asked why, I didn’t want to say in front of the man that he was trying to sell me pirated goods. My sister made me stay and so did the man, he took the Gameboy and showed me through the game. He said it was all in English and works perfectly and as he said this he quickly skipped the title screen. I knew this game would not make sense all the way through, had been translated and put on a cart and would turn Japanese 25% through so I just heard the man out now for the fun of it.
He told me I was his friend (trying to be nice) and then offered me a special offer, a cartridge with 24 Gameboy games on, including all Pokemon Editions! You should have seen my sister’s eyes light up. But I was not fooled, how could 24 games be compressed onto one cart, I felt like laughing in this mans face!
“No sorry, I don’t want it” I said and at that walked out the shop. “You take it not or you can’t have it,” He shouted as he chased me out the shop gradually lowering the price. He said I was missing out and was stupid after following me out the shop and then went back to his perch. My sister, nearly in tears as she didn’t get her game. “Can we try another shop” she asked, “No chance” I said and left the shopping centre, for good.
This true story which took place probably happens all the time. But unlucky, it happens to the wrong people. People that don’t know much about games and will buy anything with a good price tag. I feel sorry for all the small children who brought their illegal copies and now they cannot play them, they had been conned.
The question is now, piracy is illegal and I thought this kind of thing happened secretly towards customers so the pirates could not be fined etc. So how can pirated games be sold like this in shops set up in public with such a professional look? How can Nintendo, Sega and Sony let their names be ruined in this state?
One thing for all you gamers don’t buy from stockist’s abroad, the games can only cause you trouble. Just because it bears a name like ‘Stockist’s of Nintendo’ on the shop, it doesn’t mean it is official.
And lastly, one thing for you games companies, don’t give your company a bad name, your reputation is being ruined.
Piracy on this scale is pathetic.
Thank’s for reading and don’t be fooled,
Monkey_With_Attitude
Gran Canaria is part of Spain and holds millions of tourists each year. Apart from just relaxing by the pool or soaking up the sun on the beach there is many opportunities to go shopping in large shopping complexes. These shopping complexes hold many shops but mostly contain gift shops, perfume shops and electronics. Once I reached my local shopping centre I thought I could escape the street traders of their fake items and shop with comfort, but I was wrong.
Most shops were electrical shops and nearly every shop stocked video games, everything from Gameboy to Playstation 2. It didn’t matter if u were a fan of Sega or Nintendo, they had it. But behind the shops professional look and the games official packaging there was another story.
My little sister wanted a copy of Pokemon Gold for her Gameboy Color. She had been playing Pokemon Blue all holiday after leaving it gathering dust on her bedside table and just wanted more Pokemon. So, after whining and whining to my parents I was forced to go with my sister to the shopping centre to go and buy her Pokemon Gold (She didn’t want Silver, Gold was her chosen colour, selfish? I know). The number of shops that stocked the game left my mind in stalemate, making it hard to choose one. But as my sister pointed out games she liked in many shops and the staff approached us, my mind changed about the quality of the games.
Everyone in the shop just seemed so eager to sell their products, I just thought this was their way of getting you to buy from their shop, their salesmen technique. My mind suddenly clicked that the stockage may be illegal when I saw a Pokemon Blue box with a ‘Gameboy Color’ bar down the side of the box. I knew that Pokemon Red and Blue was not released bearing the ‘Gameboy Color’ name. So, I left that shop.
One shop looked promising and my sister was bugging even more now, as we could of brought it, but I was not sure. Armed with Spanish Currency I considered buying, but last minute instincts made me think again. I wanted to try before I buy.
The staff member approached me and I asked the details about the game, he spoke and spoke and didn’t let me get a word in, always going on about the price. I knew this guy didn’t know much when he gave me the wrong explanation of ‘Clock-Time’ on the games box, “Clock-Time lets you turn off your system and continue whenever you want” he stated. Clearly this was wrong as what I think he was trying to say was, simply: “You can save your game”.
At this time I knew I didn’t want to buy here and was having doubts, so as I tried to leave he stopped me and gave me the game to play as he dealt with a complaint from a customer about her game that didn’t work on her son’s Gameboy Advance. I had friends that had downloaded Pokemon Gold illegally off websites before it was released as a ROM and had seen it play. As soon as the game started I could see this game was not officially a PAL version, the Japanese title screen was displayed and when the game started the writing was definitely not the same as an official copy. Professor Oak was going on about rubbish! Before the guy came back I took a glimpse at the cartridge and saw it was not the right colour, it was a pale purple/greyish colour. Not very official and not very appealing.
I told the man I wasn’t going to take it and my sister asked why, I didn’t want to say in front of the man that he was trying to sell me pirated goods. My sister made me stay and so did the man, he took the Gameboy and showed me through the game. He said it was all in English and works perfectly and as he said this he quickly skipped the title screen. I knew this game would not make sense all the way through, had been translated and put on a cart and would turn Japanese 25% through so I just heard the man out now for the fun of it.
He told me I was his friend (trying to be nice) and then offered me a special offer, a cartridge with 24 Gameboy games on, including all Pokemon Editions! You should have seen my sister’s eyes light up. But I was not fooled, how could 24 games be compressed onto one cart, I felt like laughing in this mans face!
“No sorry, I don’t want it” I said and at that walked out the shop. “You take it not or you can’t have it,” He shouted as he chased me out the shop gradually lowering the price. He said I was missing out and was stupid after following me out the shop and then went back to his perch. My sister, nearly in tears as she didn’t get her game. “Can we try another shop” she asked, “No chance” I said and left the shopping centre, for good.
This true story which took place probably happens all the time. But unlucky, it happens to the wrong people. People that don’t know much about games and will buy anything with a good price tag. I feel sorry for all the small children who brought their illegal copies and now they cannot play them, they had been conned.
The question is now, piracy is illegal and I thought this kind of thing happened secretly towards customers so the pirates could not be fined etc. So how can pirated games be sold like this in shops set up in public with such a professional look? How can Nintendo, Sega and Sony let their names be ruined in this state?
One thing for all you gamers don’t buy from stockist’s abroad, the games can only cause you trouble. Just because it bears a name like ‘Stockist’s of Nintendo’ on the shop, it doesn’t mean it is official.
And lastly, one thing for you games companies, don’t give your company a bad name, your reputation is being ruined.
Piracy on this scale is pathetic.
Thank’s for reading and don’t be fooled,
Monkey_With_Attitude
Page:
Monkey_With_Attitude wrote:
I think it would have to be pb, but for all of
> the ukchatforums - Goatboy
Cheers Sir!
I think it would have to be pb, but for all of
> the ukchatforums - Goatboy
Cheers Sir!
So Dan, you have your tagline for a real reason then? :-D
Tony wrote:
> Nice to see you back Monkey - who would you have voted for in the
> election?
There was an election? Oh dammit!
Hmmmmmmm does my vote still count or has the final descion been made?
I think it would have to be pb, but for all of the ukchatforums - Goatboy
> Nice to see you back Monkey - who would you have voted for in the
> election?
There was an election? Oh dammit!
Hmmmmmmm does my vote still count or has the final descion been made?
I think it would have to be pb, but for all of the ukchatforums - Goatboy
Nice to see you back Monkey - who would you have voted for in the election?
Strafex wrote:
The worst of it is, Monkey_With_Attitude only spotted it with a trained eye.
Most casual gamers (like his little sister) just wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Exactly what I was trying to point out, I feel for the poor kids that have brought dodgy items from these people, when their Pokemon stops working think how heartbroken they all are.
The worst of it is, Monkey_With_Attitude only spotted it with a trained eye.
Most casual gamers (like his little sister) just wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Exactly what I was trying to point out, I feel for the poor kids that have brought dodgy items from these people, when their Pokemon stops working think how heartbroken they all are.
The worst of it is, Monkey_With_Attitude only spotted it with a trained eye.
Most casual gamers (like his little sister) just wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
And seeing that casual gamers is where the bulk of the profit somes from... having said that, Nintendo make so much from Pokemon as it is...
And talking of Day Light Robbery, I've got a feeling that you've just robbed everyone on this site of todays prize.
You deserve a clean getaway :-)
Most casual gamers (like his little sister) just wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
And seeing that casual gamers is where the bulk of the profit somes from... having said that, Nintendo make so much from Pokemon as it is...
And talking of Day Light Robbery, I've got a feeling that you've just robbed everyone on this site of todays prize.
You deserve a clean getaway :-)
Hey! Another good travellor... too many people from england go abroad and are ripped off... with even the most simple things... here are some tips:
PLANE:
Look on QXL etc for cheap deals. For example, Easyjet used to (may still do) put all their last tickets on QXL for £1 reserve about a week before flight!
If you are coming back to england check in v.v.v.v. early. What ALWAYS happens is that planes are overbooked, hoping people don't turn up. They give volenteers big settlements to fly later... but only in places far away. So ask if there are any such options. For example, on the way back from america I was offered a free flight ANYWHERE in the world (return), £500 cash, and a hotel room+food. All for staying on holiday one more day! (I couldn't take it though :(
AT THE HOTEL:
1) Book the hotle DIRECT by phone. You get about 30% off the price from the hotel web site/travel agents!
2) When you are at the hotel ask if there are any untaken rooms that you could upgrade ot at a discount. For an extra £10 a night you could stay in a 3 room suite rather than a twin room.
CLOTHES SHOPPING:
I do loads if clothes shopping. In places like america it is fine.. just go to a mall. But if you go to the east say (kust went myself), then most clothes will be bought at markets. Ther ARE fakes. How else do you get a billabong shirt (like the one I'm wearing ;) for only £3!
Firstly, check the quality. If it isn't good, and it'll run in the machine, or the stitching is bad leave it... even if it's only £3, there are better places.
Secondly, try it on. If it doesn't look right then leave it. All the clothes I bought look like the real things... I got a shirt just like one I have bought for £30 at river island... it's identical!
Finally, BARTER! Example. I thailand I bought a wallet. Guy says "500 baht" (64 baht=£1). I say "200 baht" (after all, that's more reasonable). He says "250-baht". I say, "no" and walk off... he then shouts "OK, have it!". Easy. If you can't get the price you want ... leave! Everywhere else will have them!
CDS AND ELECTRIC GOODS!
(finally got to gaming).
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! If it's at a market that is... if at a proper shop then it will be fine (although check UK usablity, and check for a worldwide warranty on expeniv stuff). With CDs listen to them. I got some pirates... REM and Blink182... don't talk about piracy... I would have never bought these albums anyway, and 60% of games and CDs sold in the east are fakes anyway!
With games, if you are in a market they WILL be copied! So make your choice. If you want to buy, try to play them. If you can't then leave it... other places will have them.
And there you have it... the way to survive abroad! sorry for the lack of gaming...but seeing as this is the FUTURE of games, and barely one topic is actually about the FUTURE of games then I'm just following the trend.
PLANE:
Look on QXL etc for cheap deals. For example, Easyjet used to (may still do) put all their last tickets on QXL for £1 reserve about a week before flight!
If you are coming back to england check in v.v.v.v. early. What ALWAYS happens is that planes are overbooked, hoping people don't turn up. They give volenteers big settlements to fly later... but only in places far away. So ask if there are any such options. For example, on the way back from america I was offered a free flight ANYWHERE in the world (return), £500 cash, and a hotel room+food. All for staying on holiday one more day! (I couldn't take it though :(
AT THE HOTEL:
1) Book the hotle DIRECT by phone. You get about 30% off the price from the hotel web site/travel agents!
2) When you are at the hotel ask if there are any untaken rooms that you could upgrade ot at a discount. For an extra £10 a night you could stay in a 3 room suite rather than a twin room.
CLOTHES SHOPPING:
I do loads if clothes shopping. In places like america it is fine.. just go to a mall. But if you go to the east say (kust went myself), then most clothes will be bought at markets. Ther ARE fakes. How else do you get a billabong shirt (like the one I'm wearing ;) for only £3!
Firstly, check the quality. If it isn't good, and it'll run in the machine, or the stitching is bad leave it... even if it's only £3, there are better places.
Secondly, try it on. If it doesn't look right then leave it. All the clothes I bought look like the real things... I got a shirt just like one I have bought for £30 at river island... it's identical!
Finally, BARTER! Example. I thailand I bought a wallet. Guy says "500 baht" (64 baht=£1). I say "200 baht" (after all, that's more reasonable). He says "250-baht". I say, "no" and walk off... he then shouts "OK, have it!". Easy. If you can't get the price you want ... leave! Everywhere else will have them!
CDS AND ELECTRIC GOODS!
(finally got to gaming).
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! If it's at a market that is... if at a proper shop then it will be fine (although check UK usablity, and check for a worldwide warranty on expeniv stuff). With CDs listen to them. I got some pirates... REM and Blink182... don't talk about piracy... I would have never bought these albums anyway, and 60% of games and CDs sold in the east are fakes anyway!
With games, if you are in a market they WILL be copied! So make your choice. If you want to buy, try to play them. If you can't then leave it... other places will have them.
And there you have it... the way to survive abroad! sorry for the lack of gaming...but seeing as this is the FUTURE of games, and barely one topic is actually about the FUTURE of games then I'm just following the trend.
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