Your honour, if it pleases the court I would like to give a brief summery of the facts.

 

In the instant case Mr. X (not his real name) is charged with the offence of ‘pulling a sickie’ to get out of work.

 

During the week of the 11th November 2009, Mr. X, a 48-year-old district judge [for an English County Court] skived his work in order to play the hit game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Judge X had queued outside his local HMV store at 11pm on the eve of the games release in order to secure his copy. His craving for the seemingly violent game was, as he put it, “Like Charlie waiting outside the chocolate factory”.

 

Instead of giving those convicted a fair trial, Judge X decided to spend his time gunning down innocents in airports and killing Russians. This later led to him “feigning sickness to get out of his commitments despite the chaos that would inevitably follow”.

 

Now ladies and gentleman of the jury, I submit to you that the defendant should be guilty despite the fact that Call of Duty: MW 2 is pure awesomeness, but because, to quote a friend of mine:

 

‘Real Life > Xbox360′

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, the time has once again come for the latest group of mental gamers to waste away at the hands of their 360.

 

 

As of Friday 27th November, a group of friends have been rocking out to Rock Band for 90 hours straight in order to enter the Guinness World Record (Gamer’s Edition) book for the longest relay Rock Band concert title. Later today marks the end of their efforts.

 

 

Kids, I believe we’re currently having ourselves an official ‘Rock-A-Thon’ (powered by Energizer)!

 

 

A group consisting of Freddie Wong, the Guitar Hero II World Series of Video Games Champion and other professional gamers are currently hitting the stage in Texas for all to see. For every fan that attends, $1 will be going to the popular charity, Child Play (up to $5000 will be given).

 

 

Vice President of Marketing, North America for Energizer, Jim Olsen said, “Now more than ever, charities are in need assistance, so we are thrilled to power The Rock-A-Thon and help raise money for Child’s Play,” “Our Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries will allow for hours and hours of uninterrupted game play, helping The Rock-A-Thon rockers raise money and reach their record.”

 

 

Turns out it’s not all about the fame….

 

 

For those who want to check the final hours of those crazy cats rocking out, look here now – www.therockathon.com

 
Now with that said, anyone wanna go for 91 hours?

 

The UK government is planning the biggest shake up to internet law in history, threatening internet users with £50,000 fines and disconnection from the internet if they are suspected of piracy. If these proposals got through, Internet service providers will have to monitor everything you do on the internet with a threat of massive fines if they don’t.

 

These proposals have a hint of big brother as everything you do on the internet will be scrutinized from the site you are visiting, every email you send to anything you download. The problem is that no matter what the government does, people will always find a way to pirate copyrighted material like they have in the past from cassette tapes, CD’s and now downloading through torrent sites. There is no way it can be stopped and these measures will surely affect law abiding citizens like you and me.

 

 

For example the proposed bill will cut off a household’s internet with a possible added £50,000 fine if your internet is found being used for illegal downloading of copyrighted material. So what if you have a 15 year old son who has his own laptop and is illegally filesharing? Your whole household will face the punishment of losing internet access with possible fines.

 

 

Many online games for example World of Warcraft use peer to peer networking for their title updates which is very similar to the way torrent sites work. Will ISP’s be able to determine the difference between the two? Methods of ISP’s blocking torrents have failed in the past as they couldn’t determine the difference between the two.

 

 

The Government seem to forget that most houses have wireless internet and many people have their wireless routers unsecured so anyone can park outside and use their internet, even secured networks can be hacked into by using simple software available on the internet .

 

 

Many people rely on the internet: For example many people work from home on the internet and if they are disconnected by the government they will lose their livelihood.

 

 

Other countries take the issue of having the internet a little more seriously like France’s highest court the Constitutional Council which ruled that access to the internet is a “fundamental human right” in June of this year. Internet freedom has been considered too important by the European Parliament members, the European Council and the European Commission to be restricted, even after considerable pressure from the Council, the body that holds government representatives from the member states.

 

 

However, in a compromise, the Parliament decided that citizens internet access can be restricted if necessary, but only after a “fair and impartial procedure including the user’s right to be heard”. There was no mention of the need for judicial involvement, which particularly worried human rights organisations.

 

The main problem here is that the government doesn’t even seem to be giving people a fair trial, these proposed fines and disconnections will come with little proof.

 

 

 

Peter Mandelson, the unelected Business Secretary, would have to power to make up as many new penalties and enforcement systems as he likes. Peter Mandelson says he’s planning to appoint private militias financed by rights holder groups who will have the power to kick you off the internet, spy on your use of the network, demand the removal of files or the blocking of websites, and Mandelson will have the power to invent any penalty, including jail time, for any transgression he deems you are guilty of and of course, Mandelson’s successor in the next government would also have this power.

 

 

Now how can this be right? This will affect people in a big way. It’s similar to private firms clamping cars or towing them away and demanding a huge sum of money to have your car released. Nothing you do online will be private and everything will be recorded. Now is this not a contravention of people’s human rights to have privacy? You can make up your own mind.

　

 

What isn’t in the new proposed changes is anything about stimulating the actual digital economy. Nothing about ensuring that broadband is cheap, fast, reliable and neutral. Nothing about getting Britain’s poorest connected to the net. Nothing to ensure that school kids get the best tools in the world to create with, and can freely use the publicly funded media — BBC, Channel 4, BFI, Arts Council grantees — to make new media and so grow up to turn Britain into a powerhouse of tech-savvy creators.

　

 

 

The future of a free internet is looking very bleak indeed. With companies like google bowing to the whims of Chinese authorities blocking certain search results and websites who can say this won’t happen here? People’s anonymity online is now a thing of the past where companies now have to give the government details of their customer’s usernames and ip addresses and with this new bill possibly being passed through government things look certain to only get worse.

　

 

 

One ordinary member of the public I asked about these possible changes said ‘With the proposed three strike rule I don’t see how people can complain as I think Piracy is wrong but the government making ISP’s watch and record what you do online is morally wrong’

 

 

The way the Government is planning this bill is turning the UK into more of an Orwellian society where everything we do online will be monitored and scrutinised by the government and private firms watching us. It is you the consumer who will pay for this with your very freedoms being taken away from you and what financial cost will this bring to you also? Surely the ISP’s will have to recoup their costs from monitoring us somehow. The day this bill comes to reality will be a sad day for the UK.

 

The UK government argued at the time that its three strikes rule to tackle illegal downloading could go ahead as planned, although commentators, such as the Open Rights Group and internet service providers like TalkTalk, expressed doubts that the government had interpreted the EU directive correctly. The EU’s necessary “fair and impartial” process will be guaranteed under Mandelson’s proposals, because ISPs will have to send customers a series of notifications before they are able to cut off internet access.

 

As internet users ask yourself, how would you feel if the Government threatened you with internet disconnection? How would you feel knowing that your internet service provider is spying on everything you are doing? Scary prospect is it not?

 

Following a recent Twitter publicity promotion, Microsoft have now declared a free Xbox LIVE Avatar item for Final Fantasy XIII has been unlocked!

 
‘Final Fantasy fans banded together via Twitter, sending thousands of messages. Your Tweets, heard loud and clear, have revealed the exclusive Xbox LIVE Chocobo avatar award.’

 

Anyway in order to receive the code to unlock a Chocobo one must register here: http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/splash/f/finalfantasyXIII/

 
Codes will be sent out in December. Good times.

Shorter episode than normal this week. We have our friend from EA back on the show. We talk Ghostbusters, Saw, Dragon Age Origins, Modern Warfare 2, Dashboard update, Lots of news and much more.

 

Please don’t forget the all important Itunes reviews

The British government has brought down its long-awaited Digital Economy Bill, and it’s perfectly useless and terrible. It consists almost entirely of penalties for people who do things that upset the entertainment industry (including the “three-strikes” rule that allows your entire family to be cut off from the net if anyone who lives in your house is accused of copyright infringement, without proof or evidence or trial), as well as a plan to beat the hell out of the video-game industry with a new, even dumber rating system (why is it acceptable for the government to declare that some forms of artwork have to be mandatorily labelled as to their suitability for kids? And why is it only some media? Why not paintings? Why not novels? Why not modern dance or ballet or opera?).

 

 

So it’s bad. £50,000 fines if someone in your house is accused of filesharing. A duty on ISPs to spy on all their customers in case they find something that would help the record or film industry sue them (ISPs who refuse to cooperate can be fined £250,000)

 

 

Peter Mandelson, the unelected Business Secretary, would have to power to make up as many new penalties and enforcement systems as he likes. And he says he’s planning to appoint private militias financed by rightsholder groups who will have the power to kick you off the internet, spy on your use of the network, demand the removal of files or the blocking of websites, and Mandelson will have the power to invent any penalty, including jail time, for any transgression he deems you are guilty of. And of course, Mandelson’s successor in the next government would also have this power.

 

 

What isn’t in there? Anything about stimulating the actual digital economy. Nothing about ensuring that broadband is cheap, fast and neutral. Nothing about getting Britain’s poorest connected to the net. Nothing about ensuring that copyright rules get out of the way of entrepreneurship and the freedom to create new things. Nothing to ensure that schoolkids get the best tools in the world to create with, and can freely use the publicly funded media — BBC, Channel 4, BFI, Arts Council grantees — to make new media and so grow up to turn Britain into a powerhouse of tech-savvy creators.

 

 

Lobby organisation The Open Rights Group is urging people to contact their MP to oppose the plans.

“This plan won’t stop copyright infringement and with a simple accusation could see you and your family disconnected from the internet – unable to engage in everyday activities like shopping and socialising,” it said.

The government will also introduce age ratings on all boxed video games aimed at children aged 12 or over.

There is, however, little detail in the bill on how the government will stimulate broadband infrastructure.

Escapist Games Limited today announced that Platypus, their “definitive version of the much-loved PC game” has just been launched on the Xbox 360 Indie games platform.

 
Originally developed by New-Zealander Anthony Flack, Platypus combines an addictive side-scrolling shoot-em-up, with a unique and colorful art style in which everything in the game has been constructed out of clay. Yes, this is the gaming equivalent of Wallace and Gromit, and just like the plasticine duo, this squishy creation oozes similar amounts of fun and charm.

 

“It’s a game you can just pick up and you immediately find yourself grinning.” says Escapist Games founder and director, Chris Walley, “It’s fun, addictive and totally kid friendly. In fact it’s a game for all the family! With its great 2-player co-op mode, you might find your other-half is just as eager as you to get to the next level!”

 

This Xbox360 version of Platypus features enhanced high-definition widescreen graphics, improved audio and has been fully localised into French, Italian, German and Spanish.

 

Platypus is available now for 400 Microsoft points and can be found under the Indie Games channel on your Xbox 360 Dashboard, or it can be queued for automatic download to your Xbox 360 by going to the following link:
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025855037c/

 

Play Modern Warfare 2 On The Weekend Of The 5/6 December And Do Your Bit For The Charity War Child.

 

Based on the number of unique UK located players who play MW2 on Xbox Live Between 00:00:01 Saturday 5th and 23:59:59 on Sunday 6th December, Activision UK will be making a life changing donation to the War Child Charity. The higher the number of unique gamers playing MW2 on Xbox Live this weekend, the more money ‘we’ donate to charity – simple. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2′s multilayer experience is critically acclaimed, so get your friends involved, strap on the frags, pull on the Kevlar and lock & load the M4 to do your bit for a very worthy cause.

 

SEE YOU ONLINE ON SATURDAY 5TH AND SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER!

Twitter.com/gameforgood

 

Introduction

 

‘Last Spring, Xbox LIVE introduced the word to a whole new form of live entertainment. It’s an Interactive game show. It’s a live gaming experience. It’s 1 vs 100 on Xbox Live.

 

Thousands were tested from the crowd, thousands more competed as the mob – started as the one, and took home real prizes. Now the phenomenon continues.

 

Win more prizes, earn Xbox Live achievements and unlock new avatar dances. Play Season 2 live and join for extended play. With hundreds of new episodes, thousands of fresh questions, and more chances to win, so get ready to turn it up and get your game on.

 

1 vs 100, Season 2! Exclusively on Xbox Live.’

 

Schedule

 

Monday
Fanboy Night: Anime, Big time geek, Comics, Fantasy, Games, Girls in games, Horror, Math & science, Sci-fi, Tech & gadgets, Web.

 

Tuesday
Live Show

 

Wednesday
Lifestyle: 80′s, 90′s, Chick flick, Community written, Cooking, Girl’s night in, He said she said, In the news, Top woman.

 

Thursday
Entertainment: Awards, Commercials, Crime TV, Finish the lyric, Gossip, Movies, Movie quotes, Music, Music videos, Reality TV, Sitcoms, Soundtrack, Teen drama, TV, Vampires.

 

Friday
Live Show

 

Saturday
General

 
Sunday
Family: Animals, Arts, Bed time stories, Classroom, Family trivia, History, Kids movies, Kids TV, Road trip!, Toys & games.

 

Dance Competition

 
“Think you’ve got moves?

 
Then get ready to dance! Submit a video of your best move and show us what you’ve got.

 
After the entry phase (November 10th – 27th), we’ll give the viewing audience a chance to vote on the best dance from the top 5 finalists.

 

The winning dance move will be added to future episodes of 1 vs 100 as an avatar dance, so everyone can get their groove on!

 

Let’s Dance! [To enter, visit www.xbox.com

 

Key Contest Dates:

 

Entry Period: November 10th - 27th
5 Finalists chosen: December 7th
Voting: Dec 14th – Dec 26th
Potential Grand Prize winner notified: January 4th”

 
Achievements

 
Group Hug[10] Your team of four simultaneously achieves a Streak of three consecutive correct answers.
Trivia Fanatic[30] Answer a total of 500 questions.
Golden Century[25] Answer a total of 100 questions correctly.
Hair Trigger[15] Get three consecutive questions right while receiving an Instant Answer Bonus for each.
Quick Draw[25] In a single round, receive six consecutive Instant Answer Bonuses.
Go Streaking![15] In a single round, achieve a Streak of five consecutive correct answers.
Game Show Guru[25] In any single round, achieve a Streak of 12 consecutive correct answers.
Quarter Century[10] Answer a total of 25 questions correctly.
Speedy Delivery[20] In a single round, score a total of 1300 points through time bonuses.
Safe Keeping[10] Extended Play: In a single round, save up the maximum of three Skips.
Showboating Specialist[10] In a single 1 vs 100 Live round, max out your Avatar Action 10 times.
Low Rider[5] Answer instantly and incorrectly three times in a row.

 
Have Fun!

 

Modern Warfare 2 Special Podcast for your listening pleasure. We talk about everything from Sinle player, Specs Ops and online.

 

 

Don’t forget those all important Itunes reviews