May 31

It seems almost fitting that with the latest instalment of swashbuckling antics hitting our cinema screens that I write about pirates.

Now of course you're probably thinking to yourself 'what the hell does Johnny Depp have to do with a games and technology blog?'

Well, now I realise that it may be construed as a tedious link (and admittedly I dropped JD's name in there to attract the girlie readers) but I am of course referring to pirates as in piracy, as in people who copy DVDs/CDs etc.



Now I know that with this blog I am likely to come a cropper. All those people that believe that piracy actually does fund terrorism are probably going to want to torch my home for my outspoken thoughts.

Well, heck... what the hell.

Name me one home that you know that doesn't own a video or DVD recorder or a CD player? Name me one person that doesn't use that device to record from a terrestrial or satellite channel? Now name me one person who HASN'T lent a DVD/video or CD from time to time to a friend?

Surely recording for home use (which by law is allowed) and then lending it to a friend for their use (which by law isn't allowed) is a pretty pants ruling.

I mean, damn or be damned. Are we ALL pirates?

Personally (and here's the bottom line) I've got no problem with certain forms of piracy. Hell, when I was in Afghanistan last December with the city's commandos I picked up a pirated DVD copy of Casino Royale in an Afghan market for $2.

I don't care what that chap tells me every time I'm in the cinema staring up at the screen wondering when the 30 minutes of adverts are going to end.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that pirated DVD's picture quality was awesome, the sound was perfect and, it's possibly the best $2 I have ever spent. Much better in fact than the £7 I paid for entry to Vue to see that film with annoying flickers on the screen.

If you want a definition of irony picture this. We are told that piracy funds terrorism right...? So imagine a bunch of Afghans (some of whom who might possibly have a brother whose uncle once shook a member of the Taliban's hand) selling COPIED (pirated) DVDs direct to the British/American and NATO forces in a market pitched next to their base.

Is that right? In the grand scale of things which is more wrong...? A bloke selling a couple of copied DVDs at Stonehouse Creek car boot? Or half the British forces making the most of cheap pirated DVDs sold by the nation we are supposedly at war with?

I'll leave it up to you.

Meanwhile, I have a new addition to the Nichols home... A Sony PlayStation 3. After all the umming and ahhing I gave up trying to convince myself that it was too much money to spend and went for it.

It looks bling it plays like a dream and I am - no doubt - soon to be a single man.

It's graphically awesome, the sound is great but it has one snag. It has convinced me that I need an HD TV to run it through to make the most of what it can do. Oh well, simple things they say...



Got a minute? Try your hand at one of these...

Title: SOCOM US Navy Seals: Combined Assault

Platform: Sony PS2

RRP: £29.99

Hit count: 5/5

Scoring highly on game title length alone, SOCOM US Navy Seals: Combined Assault is a bit of a beauty by all accounts.

Players can play as a single player, or one of four, in protecting America's shores from enemy attacks. Graphically the title rocks and its playability is pretty good and addictive. Best of all tho is the online co-op mode which sees you fighting alongside complete strangers. Brilliant!



Title: SOCOM US Navy Seals: Combined Assault

Platform: Sony PS2

RRP: £29.99

Hit count: 2/5

Looking like a cross between Monkey Island and Shadow Warriors, the outlook was not looking good for this title.

However, after playing it I couldn't help but feel sorry for my devastating preview and reckon it deserves at least a one-star rating.

It's actually quite fun. The graphics are okay but it is the gameplay that bumps it up. You can explore any number of locations across America, and meet any number of historic and mythical characters.

If you have got a few quid to lose and fancy something that might flutter away a few hours then try it. Expect less and enjoy a lot.



Title: Wario: Master of Disguise

Platform: Nintendo DS

RRP: £29.99

Hit count: 1/5

Wario as a thief...? Hmmm.... Personally I'm not convinced by the series' appeal. This one sees him become a thief where players have to draw exotic locations and costumes.

A tad boring methinks.