Giftcards are evil (at least in the US). They are a legal way of companies taking money and providing nothing. Don't believe me? Most gift cards have a provision that if they aren't used in a year, that they can siphon some $2.50 or so per month until the card is depleted. It's criminal!

Don't get me started on Visa 'cash' cards, that have a built in expiry. Why would I put cash on something at some point will vanish? Not to mention that they are a bit tricky to redeem. If you spend over that amount, you have to specify the exact amount to get the thing to work.

With all the changes made to the credit cards over here with the credit card act of 2009, it is becoming more expensive to use credit cards, because 1) They're almost all variable rate now. 2) The grace period is becoming a thing of the past. 3) Most have or are getting annual and sign-up fees. And 4) even if you do have a grace period, it is something short like 23 or 25 days. Of course, you charge something on the non-graced days, they start socking you with interest from day one. So even if you pay it off two days later, you still get the full 30 days interest. Arg!

This old guy is going back to checks. What's that? Check-by-phone? What do you mean a $35 convenience fee? (Oddly similar to a bounced check fee) Hmm...
At least 1% but as high as 3.5% is what I see in America for Visa Check Cards.

I have played it quite long time ago and if I remember, I didn't played it for long - it was boring.


But attention please! They have Eschalon: Book 1 & 2 on sale - and those are so-cool-old-school RPGs - really must buy.

Haven't heard about them. Are they cRPG (story secondary to classes/stats) or jRPG (character dev + involved story/movie), aka "You're here to mash button A and occasionally toss in a healing potion. For instance, in Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV (J) - easy), I didn't die until I met the wall, which was a good 3/4 of the way into the game.

Yup cRPG. Very heavy on the writing.

Saw Eschalon on GamersGate this morning. VERY tempted to grab it. Very interested in the games, and they almost never go on meaningful sales.

Sale should be good all week long, as I think it just started today.

That's cool. Definitely makes for last weeks "Boring Week" theme. =D

http://www.gamersgate.com/img/featured/466x_dragon.jpg

Ah-ha! That's why it's there!

(still, we all know that it is yet another match-3 title disguised as something new) =P

Depends where you live. in WA they last more or less permanently. You just have to have a minimum balance of $5 IIRC and they have to honor them permanently. Only exception is if the business files for bankruptcy.

EA Shooter Sale:

Battlefield 2141 Deluxe - $11.21
Battlefield 2: Complete Collection - $14.96
Battlefield: BC2 - $14.96
Crysis - $18.71
Crysis Warhead - $11.21
Medal of Honor - $44.96
Medal of Honor Airborne - $7.46
Mercenaries 2 - $7.46
The Saboteur - $11.21

Here's the link:

http://eastore.ea.com/store/ea/en_US/DisplayCategoryProductListPage/categoryID=53366100&childCategoryID=53366100

What's the DRM at the EA Store? What's the Distrib Method? Is it Digital River?

^ do both copy holders receive a key or just the buyer?