Re: The Gym/Losing Weight thread (1 year ago)

Hmm interesting... there is one around my area so I might look into dropping in one day on the weekend. Admittedly I'm changing my routine at the moment to center around 4 exercises; Deadlifts, Squats, Bench Press and Standing Shoulder Press so no barbells is a big negative point but seeing what else is available will be good. Thanks for mentioning it

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

Final Fantasy Type-0 Game (I got this already but makes the photo look better ) and Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Game and Original Soundtrack.
All from YesAsia.

I couldn't decide which way to go at first but I decided just to get the Japanese version of FFXIII-2 as I never really finished FFXIII in English after I finished it in Japanese. Also I really only wanted the European LE for the soundtrack so I opted for the Japanese version with the Original Soundtrack

I also have a new job starting at the start of Feb so the timing of the release date sucks big time. This means I'll be able to play it like crazy during January and concentrate on the all important career during Feb

Re: The PSP Vita Thread (1 year ago)

I'm very tempted to pre-order the Vita soon as I really want to get my hands on it when it comes out here but I feel like I'm getting screwed over when I have to pay $349.95 in Australia when Americans only have to pay $249.
It's always been like this over the years but it's really bitting now as our dollar is so strong now, it's literally $100 more expensive just cause it's Australia.
Not sure what to do as I'm not sure where I could get it from America safely... hmm...

Re: What really ticks you off? (1 year ago)

It's very often the annoying tradeoff about buying special edition items; you get a nice fancy case at the cost of a proper disc holder section. Drives me insane too, especially if it's a music CD as I tend to change them more often than games...

Re: The Gym/Losing Weight thread (1 year ago)

Great to hear people are still trying hard, I've had a good year in terms achievements
I've been consistently gyming 5 days a week for the majority of the year. Spent time learning lifting fundamentals like squats, deadlifts and bench press properly and got my diet/supplements in check to see my lifts increase massively this year. Ended up going from 66kg at the start of year to 75kg now
Looking forward to 2012! My currently membership ends in March though, not sure if I should look into resigning up at where I am currently. At $15.95p/w I still get the feeling I'm getting ripped off, especially given the poor maintenance on the equipment there...

Re: Final Fantasy XIII-2 Preview (1 year ago)

Can't wait for this one; I've got it on order as well as the soundtrack and am looking forward to getting my hands on them. Loved FFXIII, even given all of it's flaws and problems, and am hoping FFXIII-2 will be even better.

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

Final Fantasy Type 0 - YesAsia $84~

I told myself I didn't need it after I played the demo and the camera angle drove me crazy. Didn't pre-order but then ended up ordering it two days after I crumbled into desire.

It's currently sitting in a draw with a sticky-note saying "DON'T TOUCH TILL AFTER THE 6TH OF DECEMBER!" as I have an exam that day so I need to study and not play. I wonder how long that will last...

Re: The pets thread (1 year ago)

Here's a pic of my dog back from June; he's a Tibetan Spaniel, 14, very grumpy and sleeps all day and night. But amazingly we still love him

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

Tales of Xilia - PlayAsia $69.95

Can't wait, I don't usually play Tales of... games but this one looked different so I'm looking forward to it

Re: Final Fantasy X HD announced (1 year ago)

I couldn't be happier. I could play FFX over again, loved the original

Re: How to Plan a Holiday to Japan - Need Advice (1 year ago)

Wow, thanks for the replies everyone!

@Gtpod: The name Sakura Hostel run a bell when I first read it, I think they mention in it Uni exchange documents I was looking at years ago. Thanks for the info, I really should book tickets now but I have a few hoops I have to jump through before I can truly say I'm going...

@Jedi_Amara/toshireiyanee: The classic JR Pass is a must, I wouldn't go there without it

@JmiYeo: I like cities so I'd definitely be staying around the city area Thanks for your extra points, I'm not big on hot springs/snow so I'd be sticking to metro

@grim-one: Great detailed info! You've obviously been on a few trips previously (and made a few mistakes along the way but figured out what went skewif ). I'll keep all your points in mind for when I'm planning it out.

I'll be spending tomorrow night trying to get a vague idea of what this is going to cost me and how it might work, using mainly all the links and info you guys have pointed out. I knew it'd be worth asking here, you guys are awesome

Re: How to Plan a Holiday to Japan - Need Advice (1 year ago)

OK, so I'm getting travel insurance is an important part of it all. Will put that as a priority then if and when I get this plan into action.

I've got all the paperwork for my new passport but haven't done it as of yet but really should ASAP. Thanks for the reminders

Re: How to Plan a Holiday to Japan - Need Advice (1 year ago)

Thanks for the replies!!

@Jedi_Amara: Thank you for the great detailed info about your experiences, alot of food for thought.
K's sounds great, I guess my vision of hostels are the stuff we have in Melbourne and what I've seen in other parts of the world... but K's looks very good!

@kaerlis: I should probably be scared of it all but I'm not. The amount of media-hype surrounding it has been insane, both in Japan and oversees.

Re: How to Plan a Holiday to Japan - Need Advice (1 year ago)

True, but most I've found so far deal with what to do once there, or at least after the holiday is beyond the planning stages. I'm looking for advice for before those stages aka the beginning steps to planning a holiday

How to Plan a Holiday to Japan - Need Advice (1 year ago)

After 22 years of life I've finally found myself my first quality job and am earning myself some money. I've also got a graduate job lined up for February but I haven't been on a proper holiday for over 4 years (and that holiday was to Perth... w00t ) due to a complete lack of money so I was thinking of doing something before I start my graduate position...
I've been studying Japanese for 10 years, finished formally classes last year, and only been there once, 6 years ago, so I was wondering...

If I am planning to go to Japan at the end of the year for, say, 3 weeks how much money should I aim to have? I have never actually planned a holiday before (big person world is scary ) so I have no idea about how to approach the whole thing and how much it's ultimately going to cost me. I've done some forward planning and I think I can get together $8k by December if I curb general spending now...

Language shouldn't be a huge problem and I'm not looking at going on a tour, I just want to be dumped in Tokyo and/or Osaka for a few weeks to meet up with friends and have some fun discovering things myself in a way I can coordinate.

Anybody got any advice... about anything? I want to do this but I have no idea where, when or how to start...

Should I approach a holiday agent (Flight Centre etc) given what I want to do?
Have I left it too late for a holiday in Dec/Jan/Feb?
How should I approach accommodation? (I'm more of a hotel guy than a backpacker...)

I've come to the conclusion that studying the language and culture for ages doesn't really make planning a holiday from over here any easier

I come here because I feel alot of you have more life experience in this area than me, plus I value alot of your opinions (believe it or not ).
I've also created a thread over the One Question thread as I'd imagine this many involve some discussion which might take over the other thread... but correct me if I'm wrong. I'm reading alot of old threads here as to what to see when in Japan but nothing much about how to get there so I thought it'd be worth asking...

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

Final Fantasy 4 Heros of Light NDS - $25 Harvey Norman
Final Fantasy IV The Complete Collection PSP - $19.99 Ozgameshop
Valkyria Chronicles II PSP - $24.99 Ozgameshop

I've been meaning to buy both FF 4 Heros of Light and VCII for ages now but when I saw Soap of Death's post about getting FFIVCC I thought I'd grab that at that price and then decided to get VCII as well while I was at it.
I then went out yesterday with a gaming friend and found FF 4 Heros of Light for $25 and went for the buy. I've seen it cheaper online but it was sitting in front of me and well...

Re: PlayStation Vita skips 2011 for US and Europe (1 year ago)

I cannot plus this enough. If it has region locking I will cry till the next next generation of consoles arrive

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

o.0 Wow, that's quite a bit cheaper.

Either way, I'm returning it tomorrow because when I took it out the box it had already been opened previously by someone else and was damaged; the neutral position of the wheel isn't straight and all cars veer to the left when the wheel is held straight.
I didn't notice it on the first night of using it but it became obvious as I used it more. I suspect someone bought it and then brought it back to the store after using it but damaged it somehow.
I'll be requesting my money back from JB as I'm not impressed at all. It has destroyed the whole fun of finally owning a gaming wheel after 22 years of wanting one...

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

Brought a couple of things over the weekend that I just thought about...

Mass Effect 2 PS3 - $26 EB Games
Thought I'd try something new and different for the $26.


Logitech Driving Force GT Wheel - $189 JB HI-FI
Not cheap but I've been wanting one for ages, doesn't work all that well on Burnout Paradise though. Turning is very shallow meaning I keep ramming into the walls when using it

Re: Burnout: Crash officially announced (1 year ago)

I was pumped... until I read the article and looked at the screenshots

Re: White Knight Chronicles II Review (1 year ago)

I had a confusing love-hate relationship with the first game but I did end up finishing it oddly enough but I think I'll pass on the sequel for now. Possibly when it's cheaper it might have hope of a purchase but I don't want to put myself through a storyline so poorly written as the first one had again.

Re: Did anyone in Melbourne just feel an earthquake? (1 year ago)

I didn't feel a thing and I was eating at Docklands at the time.

Kinda feel left out

Re: What made you smile today? (1 year ago)

Two days untill my absolute final exam for Uni and I'm sitting here reading about what made you guys smile today.
Whoops, better get back to that study

Re: E3 2011: Paper Mario 3DS trailer (1 year ago)

That actually looks really fun....

Re: Team ICO Collection hits Japan in September (1 year ago)

Price is pretty good, $45 each or $80 for the set... I'd do that but I'll probably wait for the English versions. Never got into ICO when I tried it out on friend's PS2 but hopefully this time I can

Re: What made you smile today? (1 year ago)

You gotta be kidding me right? I tried it once, was the most painful thing I've ever done to myself, nose felt numb for ages afterwards and the pain, oh the pain. Maybe I just have a sensitive nose or just don't have the skills

Re: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney movie confirmed (1 year ago)

Never would have thought they'd put Hiroki Narimiya as Phoenix Wright, personality-wise I would have never made the match.
I've watched a few dramas with him in them and he was OK but I really do hope he does well in the role as the role deserves it.

Re: Sony down $162m after PSN problems (1 year ago)

Although everyone else, up to this point, has been concentrating on how much they've lost from this outage I think the one group that will hurt the most from this is inevitably Sony.

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

lol I seem to have caused quite alot of confusion

Re: Your newest purchase (1 year ago)

VE1121 from OPSM - $??? Didn't pay for it so not sure

After my 6 year old glasses snapped from rust so I needed these.

I can see again! ... meh, being semi-blind was more fun