Hero-of-Time

It was readily available pretty much from the start. I didn't get one until a few weeks after launch and just walked into a shop and bought one. I didn't preorder and contemplated getting one on launch day and Argos had plenty of stock in my area. Scalpers are a lot worse now though.

It's just from my own experience but yeah, that has defiantly been the case. The amount of times I've sent emails to UK based companies about various things and heard nothing back is ridiculous. Makes me wonder how these places stay in business. Whereas the companies I've dealt with in China have always been prompt and polite.

After this week, I have zero interest in the thing. Considering how long it's been in development there is a massive lack of compelling software at launch, with many of the games being available elsewhere for years. You've then got loads of games being rereleased or being upgraded for a cost. It speaks volumes that a Wii U game (BOTW) is being pushed as a big game for the console. The whole industry just feels stagnated and ridiculously money driven to the point where I've lost a lot of love for the hobby over the past year or so. Sad times.

It's mainly down to cost. Businesses want higher profits and you aren't going to get that in a country where you have things like workers rights, a minimum wage etc. You ship or sell the business to the likes of India or China and you bypass these things. Raw materials cost more over here as well. For example, I work for a company and we do R&D work and make synthetic diamonds. The cost of various chemical powders and other materials we need to do this is crazy over here in the UK. Go on places like AliExpress and you can get it for a fraction of the price from China. Surprisingly, their customer service is far more responsive and caring compared to companies I've used in the UK. I don't use the sites myself but many use the likes of Temu or Shein for the same reason when buying personal goods. The majority don't think or want to think of the ethical side of things as long as they are saving money. Given the way the economy is, I honestly can't blame for just wanting to get theirs.

I thought you were in Durham area?

Arnison.

Took some more Gamecube games to CEX today and made another £350. The guy behind the counter said they had already sold my copies of Kirby Air Ride and Pokemon Box. He's eager for more of my stock.

Yeah, Argos done this with the PS5 Pro and certain special edition controllers. Many were left without and so I'd recommend trying to secure an order elsewhere.

File sizes for a few games have popped up. - Mario Kart World: 23.4 GB - Donkey Kong Bananza: 10.0 GB - GameCube Nintendo Classics: 3.5 GB - Super Mario Jamboree Switch 2 Edition: 7.7 GB

The software price is what I have big issues with. I get that the cartridge will be probably costing more to produce due to it being faster and I suppose it's a necessary evil in order to keep the hybrid model. I guess it feels like the N64 days where the price of Nintendo games was high due to the format they chose. At least back then though you got a finished game on a cart and a meaty instruction book to flip through. Nintendo has been successful in targeting families for a long time now, by making a cheaper console and games for that market. With that no longer being the case, it's going to be interesting to see how well it does and if it in fact does price people out of the hobby. I know I'm not sold on the Switch 2 yet and there are 2 lads at work (both have kids) who are gamers who also have no interest in it due to the prices Nintendo are asking. Obviously the enthusiasts will be there day 1, and I imagine it will be a massive hit in Japan again, but as for the mass market? Time will tell.

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I've had similar things happen to myself over the past six months. I had one of my appointments cancelled via a letter but the app said differently. I then had the app say one of my appointments had changed venue but no letter to confirm. Our admin at my place of work used work for the NHS and she said the system is an absolute mess. She said the admin side is basically a house of cards and is in desperate need of a massive overhaul and update.

It's garbage and I wanted rid of it.

Pokemon Channel Pokemon XD Geist Fire Emblem Kirby Air Ride Pokemon Colosseum Soul Calibur II Wind Waker F-Zero GX Chibi-Robo Nah and I didnt want to mention it as they may have wanted to watch it after they finished work.

This is a good point. It's easy to take the moral high ground when it's a luxury purchase but when it's part of your everyday needs, that's when it becomes more difficult. Even more so now, what with everything constantly going up in price. There are so many families living on the breadline, by paycheck to paycheck or even losing their homes. It's ridiculous that it's even got to this.