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Get an iPod for him?they're "dad proof", as is iTunes. The 20GB model is reasonable VFM, too.

It sort of reminds me of a Z-Knight (which were sort of humanoid Zoids).

It's also ?12.95 on dvd.co.uk. Any sci-fi fan not picking it up at these prices... well... clearly isn't a big sci-fi fan.

Buy it. Buy copies for all your friends, too. If the DVD sells very, very well indeed, there's still a teeny tiny little glimmer of hope that Serenity won't be the end of the Firefly universe on the screen.

:: Small Press Article - thought was a waste of time as like
::  a lot of small press titles themselves it won?t appeal
:: to many outside of people interested or producing
:: such titles.

I disagree: I knew sod-all about small press before reading that piece, and it's now made me interested in finding out more.

The second Rebellion offers e2000AD is the second the comic begins a terminal nosedive, because the thing would immediately be up for "trade" on bloody BitTorrent sites.

Unless things have changed, Nintendo bucks the trend regarding dead/stuck pixels, with a no-dead-pixel guarantee. For some reason, the DS Lite appears to be more susceptible to dead pixels than the el-chunky version. Therefore, do take it back and get a "perfect" model.

Other than that, enjoy!

GAME:
White DS Lite with Brain Training and Tetris DS and Screen Protector and Cloth??129.98

Black DS Lite with Metroid Prime, Sonic Rush and Screen Protector and Cloth??129.98

For games, check out http://www.movietyme.com

:: what else I should pick up games wise

I guess it depends what sort of thing you like playing. I highly recommend the criminally under-rated Zoo Keeper, which can now be picked up for a song (13 quid from movietyme.com). It's a fast, frenetic puzzler on a par with Tetris. The only problem is the appalling Quest mode (because it's blatantly unfair, and you need to top every high-score table to unlock "super hard mode" and get the real high scores); other than that, it's ace. (And the people saying it's no better than Flash-based Bejewelled efforts have clearly not played Zoo Keeper, or don't understand the concept of portable gaming.

Elsewhere, Mr Driller 2 has actually provided the bulk of my non-Mario Kart DS gaming time. It offers little over previous versions of the game, but it's fairly cheap in most places now and worth a look.

In terms of platform games, Kirby: Canvas Curse is a rather unique effort, which uses the stylus extensively (and intuitively). It's fun, and quite relaxing. And then, of course, there's the new Mario Bros. game, which has been receiving almost unanimously positive reviews.

:: not the type of game an over 17 year old
:: would likely get hooked on.

Well, apart from Meteos. Or Animal Crossing. Or the utterly fantastic Mario Kart DS. Or Zoo Keeper. Or Kirby... (and so on). Just because a game can appeal to all ages, that doesn't mean someone who's not a kid will shun it. In fact, it often means people of all ages will embrace it ? at least people who are sick of the Sony "gangsta motherf***er rap shooter" generic-o-games. Evidently, I (and a bunch of people I know) must be "17 again" or something.

From what I can tell ? at least in the UK ? the PSP is primarily targeted at people who think they want a cool gadget, but don't really know why. Literally no-one I know with a PSP is raving about the actual games (in fact, few mention them at all), but about all the additional features (despite, you know, rarely actually using any of them), and how "cool" the console looks (until the screen is covered in fingerprints, presumably). Crucially, everyone I know with a DS (including a fairly large number of ex-PSP owners) is raving about the actual games. Most of these people, it has to be said, are in their 30s...

Maybe there's a certain mindset of people who grew up with really great, innovative games in the 1970s and 1980s who see through the thin gloss of today's gaming market and actually appreciate innovation and new ideas when they see them, hence the success of the DS, and its ability to usually out-sell its "glossier" (but brain-dead) rival.

Yes, the new DS still has a GBA slot.

:: though the PSP is more adult

GNH! What is WITH that argument? Why is it more "adult"?

Maybe I'm being a right old git, but my single criterion for games is that they should be fun. I don't care if my avatar is Mario in a kart or "bad-ass motherf***er gangsta dude". Actually, I do, because the latter is clearly poorly thought out marketing bollocks.

I don't see trying to make you rebuy the games you already own or the movies you already own as being particularly adult either.

New characters, ideas and innovation strike me as more adult than recycling, but then I remember the days where almost every video game was something new and exciting, rather than an EA-created rehash of an existing title.

(Sorry, DD?I know this sounds like I'm having a go at you, but it really is nothing personal. I've just heard one too many people in GAME convince friends not to buy a DS, because it's somehow "for kids". Maybe they need to check out UK-Resistance's "blue sky" campaign, or stop being taken in by Sony's marketing bollocks.)

I'm not sure with the DS that smaller = better, although a lighter model would definitely be welcome.

Guitar and keyboards, mainly, along with various Mac-based recording apps. If anyone's interested in hearing my output, check out http://www.projectnoise.co.uk

Link: http://www.projectnoise.co.uk" target="_blank">Project Noise

I thought zzzenith.com was a pretty funny strip, and relevant, given the changes in the world since the original series was printed. One thing strikes me, though: surely, that was written for Rebellion?