Ayatollah Hermione

LTB knas the crack. Caramel Rocky's were the highlight of my packed lunches

Englebert Bumpydick: The less successful adult entertainer

Nothing from 2012 has really grabbed me so far. Hopefully Mars Volta and The Shins do Nowt from 2012 except Pepe Deluxe like. Rock's Archandroid

Hillus Massivemus

Eh? Free kick against Man U, 3 match ban following Brighton, just back in the team now. He's been canny all year. As for people coming in, get us another good centre-half, a right back and some wingers in (though Marveaux is to come back), I'll be happy. We're not the sort of club that can resist bids (few are) so wouldn't be surprised to lose Krul and Tiote.

I reckon if I had to hold back the Mackem tides, I'd have DEADMAN on my team

Don't want to go down the rabbit hole but Leazes lumping in words like "nigger" and "coon" in with "twat" and "cunt" sums up why you should never get involved with him on matters like this.

it is a real changer. GAME are in trouble because they negotiated supply deals directly with publishers rather than a distributor and had a credit system in place basically allowing them to get stock, sell it, then pay for it, basically allowing them to operate on a level beyond their own cash reserves. this no longer works for EA and (apparently) Nintendo who now want their money up front which doesn't work for GAME because they have entrenched themselves in this particular system of business so they can't afford to do that. they still do massive amounts of business within that system but you can't just flip a switch in system like that without being crippled which is what we're seeing. to argue that the (potential) demise of GAME isn't a big change in the game retail industry is to be wrong. Think we're both saying the same thing in round about ways tbh. Dodgy business practices in a changing industry means someone has to go bust. Their business model can't really be helped by merging with someone with Gamestop unless they're going to launch a Steam type service (which I heard they might following the Deus Ex faff on). Publishers don't have to kiss up with retailers because there are literally so many places for them to sell the product, they won't lose anything by not stocking it in a decling chain. Surely it's all symptom of change rather than a catalyst though?

Saw a tweet that equated the death of these to a real changer in the industry and I completely disagree. If they were current and a mainstay of the industry as its changing, they wouldn't be closing down. They're archaic and a sign of times when game retail was a lot more defined by physical copies.

Also, Gamestation used to be canny a few years ago, especially for its pre-owned stuff. Definitely noticed a drop recently.

Also, games in majority of retail stories drop in price severely in the first couple of months anyway. I'll buy Mass Effect 3 at launch because I love the franchise but everything else can wait. Bought Skryim for £40, 3 weeks later it was £25

Surely with the amount of retailers, online or otherwise, it's an odd thing to do limiting yourself to just one store? I bought Child of Eden, a game with a very limited run and a very interested core fanbase who would snap them all up and I got one on opening weekend with no bother by ordering online. It's just an odd practice to me atm with the way the marketplace is going (especially with a view to on demand purchases when internet speed and console hard-drive space gets up to scratch with the next generation). Off the top of my head, you've got Play, Amazon, Shopto, Gameplay, Gamestation, Grainger Games (around here), CHIPS, Gamestation, Game (though not so much atm), HMV, Fenwick, PC World, Currys, Dixons, Zavvi, Blockbuster, Boomerang, Tesco, ASDA, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Debenhams. If you go to all of those and they don't have the game you want, then it must have a run of about 50 copies. I think pre-ordering consoles has some merit but I question the wisdom of buying a console at launch anyway.

no they aren't Very interested in hearing your argument for them tbh. Most of the bonuses you get from pre-ordering come with the game new anyway in most places. Certainly has been the case for me.

Pre-orders are a complete waste of time anyway. Even when GTA4 was out, every store's crack was that you needed a pre-order and I just waltzed into Gamestation on my dinner and picked it up. I'm fairly sure they were selling people's pre-orders

Doesn't surprise me at all, if I'm honest. In the toon alone, Grainger Games, Gamestation and even HMV are stronger bets for decent game prices. GAME keep things at RRP long after their competitors have knocked them down, their deals (like 2 for £20 etc) are crap and sometimes non-existant, their pre-owned stock is rubbish and I think GAME exists only because non-clued in parents go in at Christmas for their bairn's presents because they see it's called GAME. The way the game market is atm, they haven't been able to adapt at all. Been coming for ages.

Would you be able to put some recipes up, mate? Love a good soup.

Could do with a nice refreshing Club Orange. Not sure why

Mud I know the punchline btw

Last time, I watched Al-Jazeera, their punditry was well better than Sky. Might be because they were just ripping Arsenal to bits but you'd never get that sort of analysis on Sky/BBC because the bias is far too heavy.

You asked about the last 3 windows

No, he hasn't Tom, not sure what his win/lose ratio is but the football alone is well worth the change, and not forgetting Hodgson got us knocked out of the League Cup by Northampton town. How much have Newcastle spent in the last three windows? About £10.4 million. Before we signed Cisse, it was about 400k outlay

Last season we were fielding Nile Ranger and Alan Smith and have went from mid-table to European spots. Liverpool have spent considerably more and haven't made any momentum in the league (though I wouldn't mind a cup like). I'd say on investment alone, I'd be expecting more and indeed, some smarter spending of big money.

A guitarist I know got rid of one of his Fender amps because of "hot trannies" I have no idea what that's a technical term for but it's quite funny all the same.

On Sunday, there's places open from 8am so as long as you avoid Sam Jacks and Beyond, you'll be alright. Go in The Black Garter for one as well, just because it's always good crack. Saturday night, just depends on what you're after. I like the bars around Central Station like The Forth, Town Wall etc (not the gay ones before anyone starts) but if you're after some dodgy lasses and some heed-knacking music, get to The Gate.

Think Simpson will be next one replaced and he really should be. Would be a half-decent option on the bench but I don't think he'd stay for intermittent football/only playing in Europe.