Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Turnips were low priced again today, so didn't sell them. Found a letter from Parm with a bed in it, and he asked me to sleep in his bed. Nice. Spent quite a while picking and selling fruit that had grown since yesterday, and also chopped some trees down and planted more to make an orchard. Should have a forest of pear trees and another of peach trees in a few days! Nook had a Blue Bookcase in today, so bought that, and also got a Glow Clock from Nook in Venture when I popped over to see Rev there.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

I think mindless addiction has now set in with Animal Crossing. Oh dear. As well as the usual selling fruit, looking for Blue and Exotic furniture, and digging up fossils, I went over and visited Deckard. He gave me some snowman furniture, including a clock to go in my clock collection (I have six now).

Came back to Cheese and then opened up my gates. Went "AFD" (Away From DS) for a couple of hours, and came back to find my trees stripped bare, some messages on my notice board, and a letter. Hurrah! People came!

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Killed the two thingies that beat me earlier, and picked up some special magic grenades. Used one to get past an acid pool, found the Star Map and a lightsaber, and came out again to find Uthar (who wanted me to kill Yuthura) and Yuthura (who wanted me to kill Uthar). I said I'd kill neither, so they both attacked me and I killed them both.

Then it was back to the academy, where EVERYONE tried to kill me, and finally I left Korriban on the Ebon Hawk to head to the Star Forge System.

Once there, I had a dogfight again, and then we crashed on a planet. Killed some locals, and also some cloaked Mandalorians and some huge rancors. Found some ship parts, and saved the game for now. I'm some 30 1/2 hours in. Surely there can't be much left now, can there?

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Forced (hah!) myself back onto this today. I haven't played in a few days and if I leave it to "sit" for too long I know I'll just forget about it and it'll be impossible to get back in.

So, I'm on Korriban, and I entered the Sith Academy there. Uthar (the leader of the academy) says I have to prove myself to him, by doing tasks and finding artifacts and stuff. One of the other masters has asked if I want to team up with her "when the time comes" to kill Uthar, but I haven't specifically accepted yet.

My missions, then, involved "killing" some rogue students in a cave (I let them go and said they were dead), killing loads of droids in a tomb (which was easy), kill Uthar's old master (who kidnapped me), and find a sword in another tomb. Yes. It was just like Tomb Raider. Or perhaps Tomb Wraider, as there were a load of wraids in the tombs. Oho.

After that, it was back to Uthar who was impressed enough to take me on the final test before I can become a Sith. Into the tomb of Naga Sadow (alone), and I've done one room so far, with a Towers of Hanoi puzzle in it. There were also millions of wraids, and then, in another room, two huge baddies. Which killed me. Bah.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

As always, Sunday is Turnip Day. Spent a while picking and selling fruit, before finding Joan. Turnips cost 105 bells each this week, which was a bit steep, but there hasn't been a really good selling day in a while so one this week is likely. Probably.

Bought 1,000 turnips anyway. I hope I can make a profit this time! Also found a few fossils to donate to the museum, and went and had a chat to a few animals. Whitney has moved out (already) too, it seems.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Popped in to Cheese to see K.K. Slider and listen to his latest "bangin' choon", Café K.K. at the, er, Café.

Also got a letter from Deckard, who had obviously visited while I was out earlier, and he'd sent me a skull for one of my skeletons in the museum, which completed that particular dinosaur. Nice. I dug up a few things too, including a fossil I already had, and smacked rocks up for bells. My Bell Tree is growing now as well! Hurrah!

Tony Hawk's Underground (GBA)

Ran though quite a few more levels, goals and competitons this afternoon. Battery Park came and went, as did the Bronx, Santa Monica and Hollywood. I also opened up the hangar level from THPS2, which only had three goals on it and was pretty small anyway.

Things I found difficult included Ollie the Magic Bum's "Collect 10 Cans" goal in Hollywood, mainly as I was blind and couldn't see one of them, the huuuuuuggggggge gap (also in Hollywood) as it was so wide, and one of the do-three-specific-flips combos as I just couldn't press up-right and L at the same time.

Anyway, I'm onto San Diego now, but haven't done anything there yet.

James Pond - Codename: Robocod (DS)

Plowed through this a bit more. Completed the "card and board games" level, and another that I forget, and killed the Queen of Hearts boss too. Now I'm on the Bathtub level, but only have one life left, so if I die it's game over and I have to start the whole level again. Annoying, due to the number of spikes on this level. Tch.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

111 bells today. Which was a pain. I opened up my gates to let people come in to sell "last minute", but after a while got word that Luffer had them for 140 bells. Went over to his town to sell all mine there. Not a huge profit, but better than a loss by far.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

123 bells. Now, I may be stupid in doing so, but I didn't sell any turnips at that price. I'm confident that tomorrow will bring a 200+ bell price. I hope.

Cut down a load of non-fruiting trees and made a start on an orchard. Planted a load of pears and some peaches. Also bought another clock from Nook, and buried some money in the hope of a money tree.

Popped over to see JonnyBoy as he was online, but couldn't check his turnip prices as he'd stupidly parked himself in front of Nook's doors and was clearly AFD (away from DS) and no amount of hitting him with my spade would shift him. Rubbish.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

My hatred of Nook grows ever stronger, as he tried to buy turnips for just 44 bells today.

I'm convinced they're hollow and stuffed with cocaine or something, you know.

Tony Hawk's Underground (GBA)

Completed the Mall level, and unlocked the Warehouse (yes - the SAME Warehouse again), completed all of that, won two Competition Vouchers, which let me enter a competition in Noo Joyzee, so I did.

And came first, with 198 points (the maximum you can get). Nice.

That opened up Battery Park, which I haven't done much in yet. Also added a few more stats to my list. I think I only have one notch left on Rail now, with everything else up full.

Tony Hawk's Underground (GBA)

Spent a while racking my stats up even higher. Everything is now full bar one 'notch' each on Rail and Flip. Finished a few tasks, including collecting SKATE and COMBO, collecting some doll parts, playing HORSE, and impressing Bucky Lasek with a sick combo. Or something.

I'm able to leave Noo Joyzee now, and it's off to The Mall. Hurrah!

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Today's turnip price was 111 bells. I think, overall, the price has been higher this week (on average) than other weeks. Still rubbish though.

Bought a couple of things from Nook, and took a bug and a fossil to the Museum. Went and had a chat with a few animals too. Agent S called me "the bestest person ever!". Of course. Tried to go out and visit other people, but no-one was online.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Having not played it in a few days, it took a few minutes to get my bearings: I was on the Leviathan, needed to get to the Bridge, defeat Saul, and then get to the Ebon Hawk in the hangar and escape.

So I did.

It wasn't quite that easy, as there were stacks of Dark Jedis, Dark Jedi Masters, Elite Sith Guards, and all sorts in the way. Eventually killed Saul and almost made it to the hangar, when Darth Malak appeared. Oops.

He filled in all of my character's background story, which I'd actually already guessed, froze Bastila and Carth, and then set about fighting me. He ran off a couple of times in the fight, so had to find him again, before Bastila finally broke free and sent me and Carth off to the Ebon Hawk, leaving her behind.

Had another dogfighting section (I hate them), and it was off to Korriban, where the Sith Academy is.

Haven't done much there yet, except sold some spice that was on the ship in a secret compartment, and talk to a lot of people.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

47 bells today from that thieving crook. Also, Saharah the camel was visiting, so I did a load of carpet deliveries for her. Got a carpet in return. Went to Nook's and checked for Blue or Exotic furniture. There was a Blue Box, but I don't think it was actually in the "proper" Blue range as it didn't match. Bought it anyway, though.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Just popped into Cheese quickly to check turnip prices. 115 bells was the best offer of the day, which, although higher than what I paid for them, isn't high enough for me to make a decent profit. I still have hundreds of thousands of bells worth of mortgage to pay off!

Mawashite Koron (DS): COMPLETED!

There was a bit of a sticking point on a level on the 5th mode in this game. You start in a square of unbreakable blocks. So, how do you get out?

Well, it seems they are breakable. I just didn't know one of the moves you could do. "Revving" up on button X allows you to smash through grey blocks. Hurrah!

Good job I found that out too, as you need to use it a fair bit in the last two modes. The 5th one (whose name I can't work out) wasn't too hard in the end, but Ultimate (Mode 6) was hard. Very hard, in places. The most difficult one by far was a giant spiral, which spirals out and then back in again. Getting it done in time whilst avoiding the time delay blocks was a bit on the difficult side. To make up for that, however, the final level was very, very easy.

So, that'll all the levels done. Game completed!

Tony Hawk's Underground (GBA)

With Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 on the GBA out of the way, it was time to start on the next game in the series: THUG. Spent about half an hour playing it, but haven't actually done a great deal yet - only built up my stats. Like the console version of THUG (and unlike THPS4), you build up stats by doing certain tricks and combos. So, to build up your Grind stats, you have to do a long grind, etc. However, you also learn tricks like this too in the GBA version of this game (which I don't recall you doing in the console version).

Anyway, I've opened up a few more areas of the first level (Noo Joyzee) and built up most of my stats to at least half-way.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (GBA)

Just a quick few goes to finish off some more Pro Tour goals. I'm up to 41 completed now, and finished almost all of them in London. Picked up some more money and a few more stats points too. But, THUG calls me to move on now...

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Turnip Day! Didn't have to go and find Joan this time, as she was right outside my house when I started playing. Bought as many turnips for 97 bells each as I could, and then went and fished and sold more fruit to get a few more. Managed 800 in the end.

Did a bit more fishing for the Museum then, and sold any duplicates I caught. With the spends, I bought a Blue Wall (finally!) and also another clock. I have five now. Last night when I was playing, there was some sort of meteor shower, as there were loads of shooting stars. By accident, I pressed A as one shot across the screen, and seemed to have a little prayer. Well, it appears that I'd wished upon it by doing that, as this morning there was a letter for me from Wishy the Star, with a Samurai Suit present attached! ACE!

Today is also Yay Day, which means I had to go round and compliment all the animals. Most of what I called them were unrecognised, but they seem happy anyway.

Also found a new resident in my town. It's a girl wolf, and I've stolen her from Lyzzy, it seems.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Sold all the fruit on my trees, and did a bit of fishing, to give me almost 80,000 bells. The reason of course being that tomorrow is Turnip Day and I need to buy as many as possible - there's still 400,000 bells left on my current mortgage!

Also popped over to see Deckard in Snooch. I was somewhat jealous of his house, with it's three rooms and his full Snowman collection. Bah.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (GBA): COMPLETED!

Ah. So it seems there's actually only one Pro Challenge (perhaps per skater), and it seems you don't have to do a difficult Spine Transfer on Tony's one to complete it. Once I'd figured that out, it was a pretty simple task to finish it off. And that's game over, it seems.

Well, there is now Pro Tour open, so I went and had a go at that. Cleared most of the goals on the levels (except London), before turning it off. Might get some more tomorrow before moving on to THUG, I think.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (GBA)

Moved on to Kona, the skate park level. It isn't actually all that much like the GC version, but that doesn't really matter. There didn't seem to be all that many goals there, but I racked up enough to move on to the Shipyard level anyway.

The Shipyard was pretty difficult, and in the end I just got as many goals as I needed to move on to the next level and didn't bother with any more. There were a couple of "grab X thingies" goals, and I don't like them much as you can't usually tell where you're supposed to go to get them. Luckily, one of them had a big floating arrow to help.

After that, it was off to the Zoo, which was a passable clone of the GC game, only with some bits in the wrong places. No elephant skitching, either, which is good! Completed about 10 of the goals there, but needed another two overall to move on to London. Went back to the Shipyard and completed another couple (a SKATE letters one, and the competition one, which I must have missed previously) to do it.

With five goals gained in London, the Pro Goals were opened up across all the levels. I think I only need to do that now, and the game will be complete! Had a go at the one for the College, but it's a bit too hard. Bah.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (GBA)

Hurrah! It finally came! I have THUG, THUG2 and THAS all waiting for me to play on the GBA, but I want to do them in order so had to wait for THPS4 to arrive. Yes, I know there's a THPS2 and THPS3 for the GBA, but I already have them and completed them a few years ago.

Anyway, so I made a start on it on my Game Boy Micro. I did wonder if the size of the console would hamper my use of the shoulder buttons, but it seems to be OK so far. The first level was the College, and is a pretty similar layout (from what I recall) of the Gamecube version I played a few years ago. Many of the goals were pretty simple - get 10,000 points, do these tricks, etc, but the Hidden Tape and Find the 5 Frat Boys were a bit harder, simply because there was no way of knowing which way to go.

Got myself 15 goals there (yes - there's loads!) and all 7 stats points before moving on to the next level - Alcatraz. This meant "spending" 8 goals, taking me down to 7.

Again, it was a passable approximation of the GC game, and I finished enough goals to take my goal count back up to 20. Got all 7 stats points, and a "secret" point, too.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Upon trying to leave Manaan, I was arrested (again) for blowing stuff up underwater. Stuff the fish people knew nothing about. Tch.

So began another trial, which I won by convincing the judges I'd actually saved the giant shark rather than tried to kill it. Which is what probably happened anyway. Or something.

Decided then to finish off the Sunry trial, as his arbiter. Made him plead guilty, but still managed to get him off. Not really sure how that worked, but it did.

With things in order on Manaan, it was time to head off to the only planet that seems to be remaining on the map - Korriban. Not that I managed to get there, however, as my ship was attacked and we were all captured by Saul Karath, an ex-friend of Carth's who now serves the Sith. He tortured me, Bastila and Carth somewhat. Mission, meanwhile, managed to get herself put in solitary confinement, and then I was controlling her.

With no weapons or anything, it was a bit hard to kill a load of Sith then release everyone else, but I managed it. Now I'm back controlling the Main Three characters, and everyone is tooled back up again.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Played briefly this evening, to pop over to Lancre to see Red and sell my turnips for a nice price of 252 bells each. That gave me just over 150,000 bells, which will go some way to paying off my mortgage. There's still a long way to go, however!

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Still on Manaan. I went round doing the Gumshoe routine around Ahto City, and amongst other things, found out that the guy I need to defend did actually kill the Sith woman he's being tried for. So I'm not actually sure what it is I now need to do as far as that's concerned. If I wasn't so fussed about Light and Dark side points, I'd just go ahead, but I don't know what will result from it.

Anyway, I had a mission from Roland Wann to get into the Sith Base on Manaan and find some datapad. Got in via a back way (solving some maths puzzles to decrypt a card an the way) and killed a load of Sith. Got what I wanted though. On the way out, I was caught by the Selkath and taken to trial for mass murder of the Sith in the base. Managed to talk my way out of it, though.

Roland then gave me access to a secret submarine which let me get to an underground refinery, which is in ruins and infested with insane Selkaths and loads of battle droids. It wasn't unlike Resident Evil, actually. Worked my way through there, and outside (alone) in an environment suit. I only had a sonic disrupter thingie to defend myself against some sharks. One huge giant shark was guarding the Star Map there, so to get past it I had to solve an almost Towers Of Hanoi puzzle to overload something and destroy part of the station which was clearly upsetting it. And off out of the depths of the sea I went...

Except for Darth Bandon and two Dark Jedi, who ambushed me on the way back. Luckily, he wasn't so hard (although he did keep healing himself, which was irritating), and was soon killed. Hurrah! 25 hours into the game now.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Todays turnips prices were, once more, disappointing. 68 bells each was the top whack Nook was prepared to sell them for. How I hate him.

Did the usual - fruit selling, weeding, etc. Also went round the Lost and Found and Recycling and picked up stuff there to sell. Paid off the first bit of my new 598,000 bell mortgage too. Down to 540,000 now!

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Before leaving Kashyyyk, I decided to go back to the Wookiee Village and talk to everyone. Turns out one of the Wookiees was a murderer, and I had the proof. I cleared him of it though, as it seems the Wookiee he murdered was a Bad Person and was selling other Wookiees to slavers. So it was all OK in the end.

Had a chat with everyone on my ship then, and kissed Bastila (oh, I didn't see that coming at all), before returning to Tatooine to give Griff some stuff he'd asked me to get on Kashyyyk. After that, it was off to Manaan. Or Water World. Here's guessing the two remaining planets are Ice World and Lava World, since we've already had Sand World and Jungle World. It's just like Sonic the Hedgehog. Only with lightsabers.

On Manaan I managed to get caught up in a court case involving one of Jolee's friends. He'd supposedly killed a Sith woman, but says he didn't. More Phoenix Wright action then. With lightsabers.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

72 bells today. I'll spare you the verbal abuse that was directed at Nook and his idiot nephews.

Went over to see Lyzzy in Scotton, and passed on some fruit. Turnip bellage there was crap too, though. Did pick up a few bits of furniture from Scotton and Cheese, including a blue closet. Made a startling discovery that all your drawers and cupboards and stuff in your house share the same "storage space", which is a little odd. It means you can stick an item in one cupboard, and recover it from another.

I think this means I've found a pocket universe in Animal Crossing.

James Pond - Codename: Robocod (DS)

Yes. Another new game.

I also have this game for the Megadrive (albeit with the name "James Pond II - Codename: Robocod"), and sadly, the now 15 year-old version is a bit better. It isn't that there's anything specifically wrong with the DS game, it's just it isn't the same. You still have the big castle with doors to levels, and you still have the same level themes, but the levels themselves are different. In a way, this is good as you don't feel you're playing the same game - more a remixed version or something. On the down side, though, the levels aren't as good and the enemies are mixed into the wrong worlds. For example, the "playing card men" are in Sports World.

Anyway, it's still good, but just not as good as the original. Played through the first two worlds (sports and teddies) and killed the big teddy boss after them.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

And so the week's complaints about Nook begin. Turnips were at about 75 bells today, so of course, I didn't sell any. Did sell some fruit and do a bit of weeding though.

I still need pink furniture to give to Caroline the Squirrel, as she continues to hassle me for some every five seconds, and Nook never seems to have any at all. I hate him.

Kouchuu Kakutou: Mushi 1 Grand Prix (DS)

Oh. My. God. It's a beetle fighting almost-RPG with chess overtones and special moves. And there's lots of talking. Tons of it. In fact, it's like Super Text Fighter II just to get to the actual game.

Thankfully, the combat seems to be pretty simple to understand. You have a 3x3 grid. In each turn, you each either move a square, or attack a square. You seem to have to guess which square your opponent's beetle is going to move into though, or you waste a go. It's very odd.

Anyway, I cose my dung beetle and defeated Generic Kid's RPG Professor What Appears In All Games Like This To Train You. I hope it doesn't get any more complicated than this as I have absolutely no idea what else is going on.

In fact, I suspect I may have deleted my saved game by accident already.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

With nothing else to do on Yavin (not Yarin, as I said yesterday), I left and went to Kashyyyk. Or however you spell it. Once there, it made sense to have my Wookiee, Zaalbar, in my party, what with it being Wookieeworld and all.

It seems the Czerka Corporation is selling Wookiees off as slaves, and Zaalbar's brother (chieftain of the Wookiee village) is allowing it. Tch.

So, lots done here. Found the village, went into the "Shadowlands" on the forest floor. Met an old Jedi called Jolie Bindo (no, really) and then set about killing lots of stuff down there. Helped Jolie out (by getting rid of poachers) and he joined my party. Lightsabers agogo with my character wielding two, Bastila with a double-ended lightsaber, and Jolie with two as well. All different colours.

Then it was off to find Zaalbar's dad, who wanted me to kill a big beast thing. Found it, and killed it with ease. There was a sword stuck in it which could restore order to the Wookiees.

After that, I found the Star Map, and went back up "topside" and back to the village. Zaalbar's family had a bit of an argument, which resulted in his brother's death, and then all hell broke loose with the Czerkas being kicked off the planet. Hurrah!

Saved and quit (some 20 1/2 hours in now), and it'll be off to another planet next, I think.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

TURNIP DAY! Spent a while making money by selling fruit and bashing rocks for bells, and also collected and sold some stuff in the recycling and the lost and found. That gave me enough money to buy 600 turnips from Joan for 98 bells each.

In the post today was a letter from S. Iwata ("Satoru Iwata", president of Nintendo) wishing me happy new year! He'd also sent me a model of a coin from Super Mario Bros. How very kind. I did feel a bit guilty I hadn't bought him anything though...

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Just popped into Cheese briefly to sell a few fruit and to go down to the Jazz Café to see K.K. Slider. He played K.K. Rally for me.

After that, I collected some more fruit (turnips tomorrow!) but couldn't sell them as by then Nook's had closed. Did a little bit a weeding and saved my game.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Well. I've done stacks on this today. For the sake of being brief, here's pretty much everything, in digest:

Found a translating droid to buy, needed credits, entered and won swoop races and killed some desert thingies to get credits, bought droid. Went to Sand People Enclave, couldn't get near due to bug in game not realising I was disguised. Sorted that, got in, met chieftain, who asked for vapourisers. Went back to Anchorhead and bought some, gave them to him, and he let me take Mission's brother and some Jawas out of captivity. He also gave me a map, so I could go into the Eastern Dune Sea. Went there, met a hunter, and helped him slay a krayt dragon. The dragon's cave had the next Star Map in it, as well as all sorts of things, including lightsaber upgrades. On leaving, Calo Nord (now working for the Sith and not actually dead) attacked me, so killed him and his entourage. Went back to Anchorhead, and met Bastila's mother, who sent us out to the cave again for Bastila's father's holocron. Went and found that, then went back into the Sand People enclave and accidentally opened a crate there. They thought I was stealing, so killed them. All of them. Mhuhuahahahahahaha.

After all that, I was finished (for now at least) on Tatooine, so went back to the Ebon Hawk and headed off to Yarin space station. Was attacked on-route, and killed all the attackers. Once at Yarin, I sold some of my stuff, and then saved up and quit for now.

Almost 18 hours in now!

Mawashite Koron (DS)

Supposedly, this is a sequel-of-sorts to Cameltry on the SNES and in the arcade. I've never played it, so I don't know how it compares.

It's sort of like a cross between a 2D Super Monkey Ball and the special stages from Sonic the Hedgehog. You have a ball in a maze, and rotate the maze with the stylus or shoulder buttons. Get the ball to the end, in the time limit, and YOUR WINNER.

Completed all of Training, Beginner, Expert and Special modes (or "tsurainingu, beginaa, ekusupato and supechiaru" if you prefer), none of which were especially difficult. Well, one level was, but only because I hadn't realised you could do a sort of boost with the X button.

Unlocked more balls of assorted designs and weights. One of them is actually what seems to be a baddie from Bubble Bobble or something. Bizarre. Also unlocked 5th and 6th modes, but haven't really tried them yet.

Incidently, you can buy it from Play Asia.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Today is "Lah-de-Day", it seems. This seems to involve all my animals singing possible town tunes at me, and then I decide if I want them as the new tune. Er, great.

Found some fossils, and then went and sold a load of fruit so I'll have a bit of money for turnips tomorrow. I also have a new storey on my house, so decided to make that the "exotic" floor, and the ground floor is now the "blue" floor. Hopefully that'll bump my HRA score up a bit, which I suspect will increase the chances of higher turnip selling prices in the week.

Super Mario Ball (GBA)

Well. I'm not sure if I shouldn't just give up. I spent TWO HOURS playing the end boss, and managed to get past his first phase only twice in that time. It is too random as to whether you'll survive a rebound off of him, so you can't rely on skill or practice to beat him - you just have to keep trying, over and over, and hoping that you won't bounce off Bowser and down the plughole.

Accidently, I managed to pick up another Star and open the door to the left of Bowser. Didn't spend any time in there though.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

And off out into the Desert Sea I went. Found the biggest Big Trak ever out in the middle of it, and killed the guys hanging around it. Also killed a load of sand people, and stole their clothes. Moved further into sand person territory, in disguise, and tried to make it into their enclave.

No chance - I have no translator and there are too many of them to actually kill.

Trudged back out again, and found a guy trapped by reprogrammed droids (reprogrammed by his wife, it seems). Fixed them for him. I suspect I need to find him in his shop now to progress the story some more.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Nook was buying turnips for 58 bells in Cheese today, so I didn't bother selling them. Instead, I wandered round collecting fruit and fossils, and also milked a rock for more bells.

After that, I decided to have a tidy up in my house, so bought a dresser and filled it with all the junk on my floor. Also decided to "standardise" on furniture, so sold some of what I had and bought some Exotic and Blue things.

Then it was off to Snooch to see Deckard. Not for any reason, he just happened to be online. Took my turnips with me just in case, and lo! 233 bells at his branch of Nookingtons! Screw you, Tom Nook! That was a nice 70,000-ish bell profit! Got a couple of bits of furniture while I was there, and Tami turned up for a while too. Unfortunately, the game crashed when she left, but I still had all my bells so didn't care. Paid off my mortgage when I returned, but Nook convinced me to expand my house again. Tch.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Went to visit Tami in Fraston, as she put out a plea on the newsgroup for some apples. Took some of each fruit with me, and dumped them all there for her and Paul (who was also visiting) to enjoy. Spookily, Tami not only had the same hairstyle as me, but also the same colour flower in her hair.

Faced with such a coincidence, we got into bed together. As you do.

Dropped off my shirt design in her tailor's shop, and checked Nook's for pink furniture (none) and turnip bellage (rubbish). Bah.

Table Game Spirits (DS)

This arrived today (so no box scan yet). It is a compilation of 10 or so "table games", although how Breakout is a table game, I have no idea.

Played Breakout (which bizarrely has to be played with the d-pad and not the more obvious stylus), Mahjongg, Patience ("Solitare" for you merkins), Othello ("Reversi", again for merkins), a card game I figured out how to play but don't know the name, and what I know as "Shisensho". They were all pretty playable.

Also had a go at some of the other games, but haven't a clue on the rules of the other card games, and I have no idea how to play Chinese Chess.

It's a shame there's no Shanghai game on there.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

DAMN YOU, EEEVEEEL NOOK. I HATE YOU, AND I WISH YOU WERE DEAD.

How DARE you offer me only 41 bells today. HOW DARE YOU. I'LL KILL YOU. Sleep well.

Loev, deKay xxx

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Well, Nook's was back open today after its "revamp" to Nookingtons. There's a hair salon in there now, and Timmy and Tommy, his irritating nephews, run the "home wares" department upstairs. I decided to have my hair cut, but it seems you can't just pick what hair you want - you have to answer questions to determine what would suit you best.

So I have a ginger basin cut. Hurrah! I think.

And Nook wanted 65 bells for my turnips, so I told him where to take his crime-lord money. I'm sure he has a troop of West African slave children out the back of his shop churning out Nike knock-off trainers, you know.

Tony Hawk's American Sk8land (DS)

Someone new joined the ugvh Sk8crew today, and had actually beaten some of my scores. They'd got a few hundred thousand points more than me, for both the Run and Combo scores at Vans, so I thought I'd best have another go at them.

And lo, 20 minutes later, the crown was regained by me. Hurrah!

I then had a go of Trick Attack against some random person, and beat them 2,800,000 to 850,000. BEST.

Mario Kart DS (DS)

And the "no-one online" RUBBISHNESS continues, with, well, no-one online in Mario Kart DS.

I waited. And waited. Then expanded my search from "Friends" to "Regional", and then waited some more. Then went to "Worldwide". And waited. And waited again. No-one was there! Pah.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Off I went, clutching my turnips, to Nook's. Only to find he's shut. "Closed for Remodelling". Clearly it's his face being remodelled, by some other unhappy customer.

"Never mind," thought I, "I'll visit someone else!"

But no-one on my friend's list was online. RUBBISH.

Super Mario Ball (GBA)

Decided to have another crack at the end of game boss. And failed. Again. Gah.

The main problem is hitting him invariably sends Mario rebounding down directly between both flippers, giving you no chance to survive (make your time - ©AYB 1997). And then you have to start killing him again. I can only get two hits in (I assume he needs three, going off other bosses) before the blue pipe barrier is gone and I fall through the hole accidently. Grr.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

On Dantooine, there is a Jedi Order, and after speaking with them they told me "the Force is strong" in me, or something. So I was to become a Jedi Padawan. Whatever that is supposed to be. First, there were three tests. One was knowing the Jedi equivalent of the Scout's "I'll do my best" thingie, another was to build my own lightsaber. I chose to become a "Jedi Consular", as that seemed most rounded of the three choices, and it gave me a green lightsaber. Hurrah!

After that, I was sent on a trek out to kill some kath hounds, and find out why they'd been tainted by the Dark Side. A Dark Jedi (called Juhani) awaited at the source of the "taintedness" in the Grove. I managed to turn her away from the Dark, and she returned to the Jedi Enclave. On my own way back, I had to settle a murder enquiry (like in Phoenix Wright!), which I successfully did.

Once back, I was told I'd completed my three tasks, and became a full Padawan!

I was then sent on another mission - to find the Star Forge. Upon entering some ruins, and talking to some 20,000+ year-old droid there, I had two "seals" to break. This involved destroying two guardian droids, then answering some silly question regarding what types of worlds are life and death worlds. Or something. That revealed a Star Map, which pointed out some other planets, but not the location of the Star Forge.

The Jedi Council suggested I travel to other planets and seek out new life and new, no, hang on. That's something else. Seek out other maps or something. I didn't really pay a lot of attention as they all have such irritating voices. Especially not-Yoda. They made Juhani join my party too.

Then it was off to Tatooine. I don't know which planet I have to go to first, but I'd at least heard of that one, so there I went. Upon landing, it appeared I had a stowaway on board my ship, so after a bit of hunting found a girl I had to communicate with using her own language which I didn't understand. It was a bit odd.

After that, I wandered around Anchorhead (where I'd landed) and killed some Dark Jedi who had come to kill me. They were easy, and I gained a few extra crystals and another (albeit crap) lightsaber. I can have a red and a green one now, at the same time. Even though the red one is a bit, er, stunted. Talked to lots of the locals, and found out where Mission's brother might be. Next task will be to go out into the dunes, I think.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Sunday is Turnip Day! Went and picked then sold more fruit for a bit more money, and then spent AGES wandering round trying to find Joan. Eventually, after checking every square millimetre of town $hlmun times each, I found her hiding behind a tree.

I had enough bellage to buy 500 turnips this week. I hope I don't end up making a loss on them this time, as my mortgage really needs paying off and the money I spent on turnips would have removed a hefty slice from it...

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (N-Gage): COMPLETED!

Hurrah! I didn't think I was going to be able to do this one, as the remaining tapes were hard. Managed the hidden tape in The Streets, which left four to go. Ticked another off by getting the 30,000 point Pro Score in The Mall, and then I was down to three with only Downhill Jam to find them (well, and some stupidly high Pro Score on some other levels).

Thankfully, the hidden tape, 40,000 pro score, and 5 Valves were enough to get me through.

Then it was onto the final competiton - Roswell. ANd I got Bronze on my first go! Amazing. And then the game was over!

I could go back and get the couple of remaining tapes, and better my medal ranks, but I really don't want to play sans manual any more...

Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)

Just a brief play today, since I haven't played it for a couple of days and didn't want the weeds taking over my town. Did a bit of weeding, found some fossils, banged a rock for bells, and then sold a load of fruit. After that, I went to Venture to visit Rev, and didn't write anything on his notice board. Oh no.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (N-Gage)

Finally finished the Burnside competition level, but it was pretty difficult and a close-run thing in the end. Then it was onto "The Streets", which I'm assuming is a section of San Francisco. Or something.

And it's hard again. Getting points is really difficult if you can't chain combos together (no manuals or reverts, remember), and the camera angle when you get vert air makes orientating yourself for the landing a bit difficult.

Anyway, managed to get the High Score, Cop Cars and SKATE tapes. I can see where the Secret Tape is, but it's hard to reach without cocking it up, and after a few attempts my battery died on me. I still need five more tapes for the final level anyway, which means I will have to completed more of the Downhill Jam level. Bah.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

With Bastila rescued, it was off to the Cantina (as suggested by her) to find someone to help us all escape Teris. And lo, there was Canderous, who said he could get us a ship if we got him the Sith codes to get out of orbit. The codes being in the Sith base, of course.

Firstly, I needed a droid. Went and threatened to kill the woman selling droids (yay! Dark Side points!) and she let me have a T3-M4, just the job for picking the lock to the base. Once inside, there were plenty of Sith to kill, and things to collect. It was pretty simple to complete though, even the boss at the end being fairly easy (especially with the multitude of booster thingies I gave my party).

Back to Canderous, stopping off to play cards on the way (and losing) and he joined my party. Then it was off to see Davik, who allowed us to say in his base whilst he "checked out" my background, before I joined his crime syndicate. Had a quick "massage" from a slave girl, and then set about finding a way to steal Davik's spaceship. Which wasn't too hard, even though I almost killed my entire party by overloading a computer terminal. Oops.

Had to kill Davik and his henchman Calo Nord then. Well, killed Davik and the Sith inadvertently killed Calo. Stole the ship, and left Taris. Just in time, it seemed.

Then there was a space shooty bit (which was rubbish and easy) and we landed on Dantooine. Met with the Jedi Council there, which suggest I "have the Force" or something. ULTIMATE POWAAR!!!

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Rancor SLAIN! Hurrah! It turns out (look away for minor spoiler) if you put the odour vial you pick up just before him into a corpse in front of him, along with a frag mine, the idiot ignores you and eats the mine. And bang!

After that, I was into the Black Vulkar base, which unsurprisingly, was full of Black Vulkars. Who all tried to kill me. Worked my way through it, disabled the turrets guarding the lift to the lower level, killed more guards and droids, and then came across an important looking Vulkar and killed him. Picked up the accelerator parts for the Swoop Bike, and got out of there and back to the Hidden Beks base.

Once there, I entered the Swoop Bike "race", which wasn't a race, more a time trial. And it was all in a straight line, so more like a drag race. But not a race. If you see what I mean. And it was the easiest thing EVAR, and I won.

Brejik, leader of the Black Vulkars, decided that I'd clearly lost, and denied me the "prize" of Bastila. So she broke free and we killed him. Hurrah! Then it was all back to our apartment for tea and cakes.

Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

Entered the Dueling thingie, and defeated Deadeye, some other useless bloke, and Ice. Did have a go at fighting the next guy up, but he was a bit too strong for me at the moment, so I'll come back later.

Managed to get myself into the Lower City, and fought off a load of the Black Vulkars. After visiting the Cantina down there, and getting involved in some bounty huntering and stuff, I worked my way into the Hidden Becs base. There I was told I need to get into the Black Vulkar base, and I need Mission (a girl I ran into in the Cantina) to help me.

Then I had to go into the Undercity, under the Lower City. There was a village there, with some villagers infected by the "rakghoul" disease. And, upon leaving the relative safety of the village in search of the crashed escape pods. Found one, and also found Mission, who had lost her Wookee friend. Also found some Rakghoul Serum, which I took to the hospital to have it copied and released to everyone. I'm so good. Light Side points a-plenty!

Back down into the Undercity, and further down, down, deeper and down into the sewers. Some big nasty drunt things lived down there, and also Mission's captured Wookee. Rescued him, and he joined my party. Further exploration of the sewers put me in the path of a giant Rancor.

Who killed me. And my party. In one hit. Boo!