Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: At home with the art-hackers

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  • Russell Brown,

    Re: Spore.

    After running a registry cleaner, updating drivers, etc, we decided we'd have to try a reinstall -- and use up one of our activations in the process.

    So we found the SetUp app (not obvious) and uninstalled the game. Which uninstalled the SetUp app itself.

    Leo had already deleted the EA Download Manager (apparently it conflicts with their own game) so we downloaded that again Only now that won't launch.

    So Leo has found a nice fat torrent for a rip of the game that, by all accounts, is much more stable than EA's own install. How bloody tragic.

    Oh, and any EA reps unhappy about us resorting to pirating a game we've already paid for can bite me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    …or imagine if they had kids with names like Track, Trig, Bristol (my favourite), Willow and Piper…

    And people used to criticise Paula Yates for so much less.




    BTW, wouldn’t moose meat be pretty rubbery and horrible?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    I think Kodos put it best when he campaigned on the basis of: “We must go forward, not backward, upward, not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom.”

    p.s., A Canadian colleague assures me moose meat is great.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    Russell:

    I'm of the view currently that EA needs to be crucified over this. They've released broken software and made it very difficult to fix because of the way they've applied their DRM.

    Wankers.

    Bring back Trip Hawkins!

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Neil Graham,

    Bring back Trip Hawkins!

    Shh. You're not supposed to know about him.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 118 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark,

    Re the Music Awards - very glad to see Nesian Mystic in there for the Peoples' Choice. Feleti works as community liaison in my part of Mangere, and he comes to our kindergarten every Wednesday and he's a hell of a lovely young man.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    Feleti works as community liaison

    Ssshhhhhh...don't tell Ms. Palin.....

    Yeah, I think it's great to see the Nesians back in there. They are part of a great tradition of lazy, soulful, urban, reggae-ish pop that goes back to the likes of the wonderful Herbs all those years back and is so uniquely NZ Pacifica. A very cool band.

    The Tuis' lineup is the strongest it's been in many years IMO.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • amanda peter,

    don't need to know a thing about Brian Johnstown Massacre. tight as is all that matters. Woody described them as the <quote>penultimate flying nun band</ quote> if they play anything like they did @Civic gig on Wednesday night it will be one of the sonic gigs of the year & madness to miss...

    Otautahi-the flat city • Since Sep 2008 • 11 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    The Tuis' lineup is the strongest it's been in many years IMO.

    For sure. To take one example, I'm not personally a fan of Tiki Tane's music, but I have real respect for the integrity of what he and his management have done. It's nice to see that recognised.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • robbery,

    It pays to remember that the nz music awards are infact awards given to paid up members of rianz,

    If you are a successful independent artist who is not a member of rianz then it doesn't matter how much the people like you, you are not eligible for an award. Did this affect Fat Freddies in anyway or were the members?

    Label members are asked to submit artists for award recognition. if you are not a rianz member you can pay to have your artist considered for an award.

    things may have changed but this was the way it is the past time I looked into it.

    In a country as small an nz where many artists make an impact purely from their own initiatives, independently this always seem like the awards were a promotional exercise for the bigger players who had decided to form a club and give themselves awards. of ocurse this is how it is overseas too, but still.

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report

  • robbery,

    Re: Spore.

    what's the story on purchasing this game russell. you did a piad download making you a legal owner of the game which was allowed to be activated at a certain time.
    it didn't go etc.
    whats your fall back for tech support. surely you paid for a item in going order which it turned out not to be. Under consumer law you must have some rights to kick somebodies arse, demand the goods you paid for etc?

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    @Rob: You'd think so.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    In a country as small an nz where many artists make an impact purely from their own initiatives,

    Looking at the list it's pretty much all indies. The Dick Johnson album for example was, I'm pretty sure, non-RIANZ

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • robbery,

    @Rob: You'd think so.

    I would think so, so what is the actual story? maybe its complicated if you buy from no local people. ie people you can't go round and insist you get satisfaction from.
    that's an interesting part of the net economy worth digging up a few legal ramifications of. do you have consumer rights between markets? I assume you bought from the american market?

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report

  • robbery,

    The Dick Johnson album for example was, I'm pretty sure, non-RIANZ

    so he or his label paid the hundred and something fee per catigory to have his works considered in the 'new zealand' music awards then. cos unless they've changed the rules you can't play if you don't pay.

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report

  • Kracklite,

    Because we must be strong. Because if we are not strong, then we will be weak. And if we are weak, we will not be strong....

    Rich, you sound like the Sphinx.

    Meanwhile, those interested in Spore might want to check out Will Wright and Brian Eno giving a seminar on its development at the Long Now Foundation. Blog summary here and mp3 here.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Looking at the list it's pretty much all indies. The Dick Johnson album for example was, I'm pretty sure, non-RIANZ

    Tiki's 100% indie too: Dirty Records via Rhythmethod.

    And check out his website. When you mouseover the navigation it switches to Maori. That's cool.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    so he or his label paid the hundred and something fee per catigory to have his works considered in the 'new zealand' music awards then. cos unless they've changed the rules you can't play if you don't pay.

    the last time I submitted something, a few years back (2002), we were non-RIANZ members and all I had to do was give them 25 copies as I recall.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • robbery,

    Tiki's 100% indie too: Dirty Records via Rhythmethod

    you mean p money and scribes label?

    on a nz scale that's not the lower level I was meaning by indie.
    I mean on a local level. Indie has kinda shifted a few steps to the left these days with your typical a low hum type band, really doing it all themselves as in everything. highly successful too but not included in the nz music awards really, if they'd even want to be, but it would be great if they were, ie awards open to everyone.

    Conditions of Entry in 2008 (Main Awards)

    CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

    Entry is open to members of the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand inc. Non-members may enter but need to pay an entry fee of $112.50 (gst incl). This fee covers entry in one or more of the award categories. It is payable at the time of entry. No entry fee is required from RIANZ members.

    Nominations for recordings in the following categories must be accompanied by twelve (12) copies on compact disc: Best Maori Album, Best Dance / Electronica Album, Best Gospel / Christian Album, Best Classical Album, Best Producer, Best Engineer and Best Album Cover.

    someone must have paid for you simon. still its only 12 discs instead of the old 20.

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    on a nz scale that's not the lower level I was meaning by indie.
    I mean on a local level. Indie has kinda shifted a few steps to the left these days with your typical a low hum type band, really doing it all themselves as in everything. highly successful too but not included in the nz music awards really, if they'd even want to be, but it would be great if they were, ie awards open to everyone.

    so who decides the arbitrary 'you have sold too many records to be indie' level?

    someone must have paid for you simon.

    X-Files was on TV back in those days wasn't it?

    I think the token thing is there to ensure that you are a serious entrant, if you will. It's only $100. Hardly a barrier

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • robbery,

    so who decides the arbitrary 'you have sold too many records to be indie' level?

    you? :)
    I'm not making an argument for the term of indie, merely saying it wasn't what I meant by it. When you're representing the guy who topped the charts for months you're moving a little away from the street, however cool the people involved are.

    I was also making the distinction that the 'nz music awards' are actually the "rianz and people who have paid rianz an entry fee" awards, and the "people who wish to nominate themselves for an award" awards.

    also noting that a lot of popular and great music is made outside of that scope and that wouldn't it be great if the awards were selected by people who had a knowledge of what was going on (hang out at one of a handle full of venues will do that) and selected based on merit, rather than membership of the club or wanting to promote oneself through award recognition.

    the b nets get closer to that, being selected by the stations from music they play.

    still, a good excuse to get pissed on someone else's tab

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    p.s., A Canadian colleague assures me moose meat is great.

    A Møøse once bit my sister ...

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    I think the token thing is there to ensure that you are a serious entrant, if you will. It's only $100. Hardly a barrier

    Apparently there's a way around it

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Tom Cosm was complaining that because he releases all his music under a Creative Commons license rather than commercially, he wasn't eligible for the Vodafone (?) awards.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • robbery,

    Apparently there's a way around it

    hahaha good one, :)
    but apparently they shut that loophole down, although the band say they didn't fudge they system, just asked their friends to vote, very strongly

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report

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