I spent RM 160 on video games last night. I was at Mutiara Complex over at Jalan Ipoh where I purchased the first of two games. While there were a whole bunch of depressing (not to mention ancient) stores on the ground floor, there was a half decent video games shop on the lower ground floor that actually sold some current gen consoles.

The thing that these stores have in common  is that all of them sold pirated games. Being curious, I inquired on whether Red Alert 3 (for the PC) was on sale. The shopkeeper said he was selling each at game at RM 12 per DVD. RA3 comes in 3 DVDs, bringing the price tag to RM 36 (~USD 10).

He mentioned that the media used, “gold-coloured” DVDs, are more expensive than the blue-coloured DVDs normally used in the creation of pirated DVDs. He claimed that the use of gold-coloured DVDs eliminates the installation and disc readability issues normally associated with the latter media.

Deciding that it was not really worth it (especially when it was just a survey on my part), I told the shopkeeper that it was too expensive and I started to walk away. He then offered RM 10 per DVD, effectively bringing down the price of the game to RM 30.

Interesting. I went with the offer; the pirated copy of RA3 will tide me over until I get the original copy next month, preferably used and with a big discount compared to retail (so don’t bring out the knives..yet). Typing the initial draft of this experience made me realize that hey, this is basically how the pirated video games industry works in Malaysia.

A couple of years back, it was not uncommon to see foreign tourists (Americans and Europeans in particular) buying piles of pirated video games/software and movies from one of the premier I.T centres right smack in the middle of KL (national capital of Malaysia).  But the pirated software vendors are on the wane now in such I.T centres, with government enforcement gaining from strength to strength every year.

However, these vendors are thriving in fringe shopping malls, like the one I’ve been to last night. This is probably because these are not tourist attractions and the government doesn’t see them as an embarassment to international watchdogs like the Business Software Alliance.

So, did I spend RM 160 on pirated games last night? No, the second game I bought was Burnout Paradise (for the PS3) at the Gardens’ Sony Centre for RM 129. Quite a bargain I would say. This brings the total amount of original games purchased this month to FOUR: Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3), Soul Calibur (PS3), Burnout Paradise (PS3) and New International Track & Field (NDS).

Fans of Disgaea listen up. Purchase a copy of Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice for the Sony PS3, at a discounted price and get a free gift in the form of Disgaea Custom Soundtrack (worth USD 9.90). This two for one bargain (the game is being sold at a USD 10 discount) is kinda rare these days, so hurry up and click here for further details.

The last I heard, the latest Sony PSP model is the Sony PSP-3000 and no one markets it as the Sony PSP3. So what exactly is the PSP3 console shown here on the Sony Style (Malaysia) website? A new successor to the Sony PSP? If so, whatever happened to the Sony PSP2 console?

I know the above picture highlights a typo error done by whoever that is maintaining the Malaysian Sony Style website, but it’s good for some chuckles. Visit the Sony Style side here: http://www.sonystyle.com.my/product/ps_main.aspx

Gotta admit, watching Darth Vader in Soul Calibur IV’s opening cinematic was a laugh out loud moment, not to mention watching my brother get bashed by a nunchuk-weilding boss in Ninja Gaiden. Notice something about the game titles I’ve just mentioned? They are not the normal titles you would find on Nine Over Ten.

Yup, I’ve finally got myself a Sony Playstation 3. It’s gonna be fun .

When it rains, it really pours over here at Nine Over Ten 9/10. The PR guys for EA were nice enough to send a 1 minute 4 seconds trailer for Need For Speed Undercover, featuring Maggie Q, guns, hommies, and of course fast cars. Have a look (right click and click on play to view the video):

A whole lot of Need for Speed Undercover stuff today. Did you know that Maggie Q, poster girl for NSFU was in Hong Kong today on an Asian Media tour for the upcoming launch of Need for Speed: Undercover (NFSU)?

Bet you didn’t know that, but in any case, feast your eyes on the boxart for NSFU on the Nintendo DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Nintendo Wii and the Xbox 360, as well as some really shiny screenshots of the cars in the game:

Some things never sell, do they? Play-Asia is now selling the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Premium Pack which comes with the Steel Hagane Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition console with a whopping USD 120 discount!

This package, priced at USD 579.90 (previously USD 699) consists of the following items:

• PlayStation3 Console 40GB (Steel Hagane Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition)
• Dual Shock 3 Controller (Steel Hagane)
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Special Edition w/ Bonus Blu-ray Disc)
• Power Cable
• Audio/Video Cable
• USB Cable
• Manual (Japanese)

Interested? Well, click here for further details.