There must be some way out of here || mcshep <3

02 March 2009 @ 10:21 pm

Regarding

scans_daily

fandom: comics

scans_daily has been suspended by LJ for breaching copyright, prompting a lot of discussion of fair usage, piracy and file sharing in the comics fandom. There's a good overview of some of the issues over at MightyGodKing. This got me thinking about the way in which comics publishers deal with internet piracy.

I find it bizarre to see the comics industry making exactly the same mistakes as the music and TV industries made 10 years ago when it comes to digital distribution. Computers and the internet are the tools of the modern age; why would you not use this as an opportunity to engage with your fanbase?

I enjoy new weekly comics, but I don't have time to go to the comic store every week, and I don't have the space to store hundreds of weekly issues. I like to read comics on paper, but also on my computer and my phone. I like to have my comics in a format which can travel with me without being damaged. These are some of the reasons why I (illegally) download comics. However, the idea that 1 download = 1 lost sale is ridiculous. I will often buy a paper comic, then download an electronic version for my phone. Or I'll download an issue, enjoy it, and go out and buy it too.

Just this weekend, I was in my local comic store (Orbital Comics, which is awesome!), and I bought Batman 686, Nightwing 152 and the new Batman & The Outsiders trade, all of these I had downloaded before. I've read all of Batman R.I.P. electronically, but I bought the hard cover trade (which is gorgeous, by the way), and single issues of #682 and #683 - I bought them twice because I liked them so much!

This would all be unnecessary if the publishers got on the ball and made electronic comics legally available. Why isn't there a facility on the DC website to buy for comics in this more convenient format? I would rather pay for comics; I understand how much work goes into them and I'd like to support the industry. If DC offered a subscription service that gave you paid access to, say, 6 months of issues for a particular title, I would certainly sign up. If they could email me each new issue of my favourite series in a DRM-free .cbr format (or even better, an iPhone friendly format), they could name their price and I'd pay.

In a similarly bizarre move, I've found it's not possible to buy the Batman: Black and White motion comic from iTunes in the UK. I like the idea of a motion comic (and the Watchmen one is fantastic), and then I found out that the first Batman story is by Paul Dini and Alex Ross. Waaaaaaaaant. Seriously, DC, I want to give you my money. Why won't you let me give it to you?

Tags: fandom: comics

Current Mood:

confused

Current Music: watching Flight of the Conchords

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10 February 2009 @ 11:41 pm

BOO to you, DC

So, uh, hello. It's been a while! I've been pretty busy of late, working and such (no, really, it's true!) but I've been missing my LJ-crack fix. Hope you've all been well. xx

It appears that the universe is conspiring against me. Not only is there NO MORE SGA EVA OMG NOES :( :( :(, now Nightwing is not getting renewed. Why would you cancel this most awesome of comics? Peter Tomasi was writing it so well, and the issues with art by Rags Morales were gorgeous. I'm a tiny bit mollified that Tomasi is going to be writing Outsiders, which could be pretty awesome - but his strength is in charaterisation, not action, and I'm not sure how that will translate to a team like the Outsiders.

Is it wrong that I've only watched SGA up to episode 5x13, and I am refusing to watch any more because THEN IT WILL BE OVER? :( I'm fully embracing denial, so perhaps I can carry this effective approach over to comics. I'll just re-read Nightwing #151 over and over, and live in the happy bubble of self-deception.

Tags: fandom: comics, fandom: stargate atlantis

Current Mood:

saaaaaaad panda

Current Music: Tracy Chapman - Say Hallelujah

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06 December 2008 @ 05:18 pm

My rig, let me show you it!

fandom: devil may cry

So, what have I been doing with myself for the last few weeks? Apart from getting my master's degree (with a merit, woo!), I've mostly been building myself a beautiful new computer. :D

It started out as a "small upgrade" for my 4 year old Shuttle box, and sort of ballooned out of control from there. I ended up replacing every single part of the machine apart from the hard drives. >.<

( Specs. )

( And pictures! (for the geeks who like that sort of thing. *cough*) )

And, yes, that is an ambient case temperature of 29°C idle. It's about 32° whilst gaming. ^^
I'm most impressed by the graphics card; it was a bargin at £75 and every game or high def movie I've tried has looked absolutely stunning. I'm logging 25465 CPU score and 3845 graphics score on 3DBenchMark, which isn't bad for a system built for "casual" gaming. (Hah. That's like saying I have a "casual" crack habit.)

I've been putting all that l33tness to good use, playing Devil May Cry 4. A lot. As with all DMC games, it looks just beautiful, and watching your nubile young man flail around his big sword is half the fun. I also adore the cut scenes; they're as magnificently silly and over the top as you would expect, very much still in the Japanese anime style.

Despite being a fervent Dante fangirl, I'm actually enjoying playing as Nero, the new hero. He's an annoying little teenager (and needs to stop crying like a sissy kthxbai), but he's fast and maneuverable, and the devil bringer is great for both movement and attacks. Dante, who you play as in later missions, feels stronger but heavier and less flexible in comparison. The gameplay is exactly what you'd expect - lots of mindless sweeping of demons and stupidly simple puzzles - but it's so stylish that I love to just watch it. I did start out on human mode, which is ridiculously easy, but I'm hoping that demon hunter mode will offer more of a challenge.

Oh, and the best thing about this game? Mmm, slashy goodness.

Tags: fandom: devil may cry

Current Mood:

geeky

Current Music: JayMay - Gray or Blue

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05 November 2008 @ 04:14 am

Woot, President Obama FTW!

*does the dance of presidential joy*

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Tags: topic: politics, type: liveblogging, type: via ljapp

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05 November 2008 @ 03:59 am

Ahh, so I failed on a fundamental of liveblogging - my phone ran out of battery. My big suprise from the last few hours is Obama winning Ohio, what a result! I'm tenntatively leaning towards an Obama victory, unless McCain gains some traditional Democrat states.

I'm waiting on California now, which will decide this race definitatively. The polls are suggesting a Democrat victory there, but I think it'll be close.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Tags: topic: politics, type: liveblogging, type: via ljapp

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05 November 2008 @ 12:45 am

Boo to South Carolina, with their 8 electoral votes for McCain!

We're watching on the BBC world service, and they have the most fabulous map to display the votes. It distorts to reflect the difference between states' geographical area and their electoral votes.

And Pennsylvania and N Hampshire just got called for Obama, woot!

And DC and Illinois and Deleware and called for Obama too, amazing! I'm beginning to have some hope for him, but I've lost all faith in the US electoral system. With the east coast states votes coming in first, Obama will get the early lead. I think there will still be a close fight in the central states though.

Also, queencheesecake and I are realizing that our American geography is pretty poor. Who knew that Philedelphia was in Pennsylvania?

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Tags: topic: politics, type: liveblogging, type: via ljapp

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05 November 2008 @ 12:15 am

USA Election 08

Am in a nice little bar with queencheesecake, liveblogging the US election.

Just two states projected so far, COME ON VERMONT! THREE ELECTORAL VOTES, WOO!

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Tags: topic: politics, type: liveblogging, type: via ljapp

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30 October 2008 @ 09:09 am

My internetless woe is infinite

Ah, LJ, I have missed you. I moved house last month, and I STILL HAVE NO INTERNETZ. Boo. I'm trying out the spiffy new livejournal.app for iphone, which means I can post again. Woot!

The big news this week is David Tennant leaving Doctor Who, which I think is actually a good thing. My love for 10 is epic and unfaltering, but I do think it's time for someone new. Who was never supposed to be about one person; the doctor is interesting because he's constantly evolving and changing.

And anyway, queencheesecake and I have got the casting for the new doctor sorted - clearly it should be Anthony Stewart Head! How awesome would that be? And with the Moff taking over the writing, this could be an interesting new direction for the show.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Tags: fandom: doctor who, type: via ljapp

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27 August 2008 @ 05:59 pm

Multi-fandom request fest!

fandom: general

The Fall Fandom Free-For-All

This is a multifandom, fanworks, free-for-all! Basically, request any piece of fanwork you would like – fic, art, icons, video – in any fandom. In return, you offer to make something for someone else.

This is the opportunity to see that fic you've always wanted written, to clear the pipes of your own unused ideas by making someone else write them for you, to get new icons for the new season!

There's a festival of multi-fandom love going on - come on in and join the fun! I am making Sheppard/Harkness gun pr0n, yays!

My wish list is here, should you feel inclined to make me DO THE DANCE OF JOY.

Tags: fandom: general

Current Mood:

excited