Here's 'Brain Games' by Arman Bohn. The video was created in Adobe After Effects using footage from Nintendo's free downloadable DSi toy Flipnote Studio. It's a pretty chilled tune mixing mellow acoustic vibes with ambient electronic sounds.
Well, at least I know more about games than I do about music.
More juicy details have now emerged from yesterday's now infmaous R4 court case, and the news is worse than we thought. The extremely thorough ruling details all devices and methods designed to circumvent Nintendo's copy protection, specifically covering "the shape of the connector arrangement of the slot on the DS and the corresponding shape of the game cards designed to fit into it; the boot up software permanently stored on the Nintendo DS, which checks for the presence on an inserted card of the Nintendo Logo Data File (NLDF) and prevents execution of programs present on the inserted card if the NLDF is not detected; and the use of shared key encryption technology and scrambling to enable the DS to detect whether game cards are authentic."
That means that any device designed to get around this protection using the above methods is now officially illegal, and the case itself specifically names the R4 DS, M3 DS, DS One Supercard, DSTT, DS Linker, Acekard, CycloDS Evolution, N5 and EZ devices.
It's worth noting that it is still legal to own flashcarts, just not to sell or advertise them. Readers interested in the exact details of the case are recommended to go read the full breakdown over at Eurogamer.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is with heavy heart that I must write this blog post today. You see, the popular R4 flash cartridge for Nintendo DS was officially declared illegal in a London high court today, making it against the law to sell, promote, or advertise this card in the UK. Unfortunately that means that we, too, have had to withdraw this card from sale, and a quick Google search reveals that our competition in this area have taken exactly the same approach.
Opponents of the card argue that it enables piracy, and therefore enables others to break the law and seriously impact the gaming industry (of which we are, of course, huge fans). Supporters argue that the cards allow gamers the convenience to carry all of their games with them on one cartridge, and that the music and video playback, homebrew games, and ebook reading far outweigh the fact that a few people do decide to use this device for piracy.
Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on, the truth of the matter is this: R4 cards are no longer available for sale.
Fortunately, the R4 is a very small part of what we do, and while it is sad to see it disappear from our virtual shelves, hopefully this means that we can expand our range in other directions. As far as we can see, the ruling does not affect the Acekard 2i, so we are selling off our (extremely limited) remaining stock of this card before withdrawing from the flashcart business permanently. (see update)
Thanks for your understanding, and don't be a stranger.
Remember when we announced that Love Plus was getting an arcade release?
Course you do, it was only a few days ago!
Here's some video of the game in action. As you can see, players get a full 5 minute "date" with their chosen virtual lady, and at the end players receive a printout detailing just how well they've done.
Remember the guy from Japan that married a DS game that we reported on a while back? It seems that the object of his affections, Konami's Love Plus, is getting an arcade release. Seems like these girls aren't into commitment all that much though - they'll entertain anyone who comes along and flings some Yen in their direction.
I also don't see anyone walking down the aisle with one of these things any time soon...
A question we get asked a lot here at ConsoleBUZZ is "when are you guys going to start selling DS games?". It's a fair question really, after all, we're big Nintendo fans and big gamers ourselves, so you'd think the opportunity to actually shift some games would be pretty tempting for us.
As it happens there may well be something in the works in the near future. I can't say too much just yet, but there's some wheeling and dealing going on which should result in some games becoming available through our hallowed pages very soon.
So "stay tuned", as they say...
Flash carts are a wonderful thing, allowing Nintendo DS owners to really unlock the potential of their handheld gaming machine. They can be used for playing music, videos, and homebrew games, as well as game backups. Of course, with the thousands of games available for the DS, carrying your entire game library around with you is a daunting prospect, making these handy little devices a tempting proposition.
Lifehacker has an excellent story up on two of these popular carts, the SuperCard DSTwo and the hugely popular Acekard 2i. The guide shows how to set up the cards and how to backup your DS games for your own convenience. Did you know that it is completely legal to backup the games that you own, just in case the worst should happen to them?
The Acekard 2i is coming soon to ConsoleBUZZ, meaning that you get our legendary customer service, software pre-loaded and ready to go, and free delivery anywhere in the UK. Watch this space to be the first to know when they come in to stock!
What if Pokémon existed in the real world? Check out this graphic explaining some 
Pokémon and their special abilities, and how they'd work in the world outside of the Pokémon universe. Click the image above for the full-size version featuring 15 of your favourite critters.
The Secret of Monkey Island:SE powered by InstantAction
The original The Secret of Monkey Island is one of gaming's absolute greats. LucasARTS' point and click adventure game took the world by storm back in 1990 on the Amiga, Atari ST and DOS PCs, and it's still one of the greatest games ever made in this writer's eyes.
Well, now you can relive those heady days of gaming with upgraded and improved graphics and sound thanks to the little embedded player you see above. You can play the first 20 minutes for free, and if you like it, you can carry on and finish the game for $9.99 (that's about £6.50!). It took me weeks to finish all those years ago, so it's a whole lot of game for very little money. Plus you can play anywhere there's a computer with a web connection!
Tip: Skip the opening credits by pressing backspace!
Gaming juggernaut The Sims 3 is going to be released on games consoles this autumn, EA has announced. The game will feature a new karma system, as well as Facebook connectivity. The versions will differ slightly, as the Wii will be getting an exclusive "Beach Town" location, while the DS brings an all-new story mode ot the franchise.
The Sims has been one of the best selling game series of all time and a huge hit with fans, so these home console releases should be well-received.
Nintendo are going to launch their next handheld, a 3D version of the hugely popular Nintendo DS known as the 3DS, in October. That is, of course, if mysterious "industry insiders" are to be believed! A senior games industry figure had this to say to CVG on the matter:
"It's a surprise - we were expecting it much closer to Christmas. But I suppose it gives Nintendo the opportunity to get it front and centre in people's minds nice and early.
"In my experience, you don't launch a product that early to Christmas unless you're confident in it - and going to spend a lot of money on it. We're reassured that Nintendo is going to give it some decent backing in Q4."
The clever money is on the catchy and memorable date of 10/10/10. If this is the first you've heard about this mysterious device, or if you've forgotten already, make sure you read our roundup of the 3DS hardware specifications and other rumours!
Check it out... The official Dead Rising 2 Trailer from Captivate 2010. The game is due out on Xbox 360, PC and PS3 on the 3rd of September this year.
Dead Rising 2 is due for release on September 3rd 2010 on Xbox 360, PC, and PS3. We thought it would be a good idea to gather all of the screenshots released so far into one place. Feel free to click any of the images above to see our Picasa album!
You can also watch the latest HD Dead Rising 2 Trailer here!
Sad news in the world of gaming today, as UK retailer GAME have announced that they will be closing 127 of their iconic high street retail outlets over the next 3 years. The company has blamed increased competition from supermarkets and the internet, and will be reducing the number of shops from 677 locations across the UK to 550. The decision was made after profits dropped 28% over the previous year.
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Do you like Pokémon? With HeartGold and HeartSilver recently released on the DS, and Black and White coming out soon, Pokémon has once again captured the imagination of us in the west. But over in Japan the obsession never really went away, and the latest in a very long line of Pokémon branded merchandise is these batteries from Maxell.
They're launching in Japan only on May 25th. The batteries themselves feature little pictures of Raikou and Electivire, while the packaging has pictures of Pikachu and Piplup.
I think we're going to have a look into importing some of these... Watch this space!
Pokémon Black and Pokémon White are the names of the two upcoming new Pokemon games on the DS and DSi (and maybe the 3DS?). The series is getting a 3D reboot, and eager fans have been waiting for a chance to see the new art style in motion. Well, Nintendo gave them that chance last night when the first gameplay footage was shown on Japanese TV show Pokémon Sunday.
Watch the footage in the video above and let us know what you think in the comments!
Also, if you like Pokémon why not check out our Pokemon DS Cases and Pokemon Pikachu DS Lite Shell?
Remember Earthworm Jim? He had his own Megadrive game and Saturday morning cartoon, and now he's making a comeback in an HD remake (that's the game, not the cartoon unfortunately!).
Up above you can see some gameplay footage, as well as a competition where Jim fans can win their very own Earthworm Jim "I Love Jim" T-Shirt by entering at the Gameloft official Facebook page. There's also a trip to New York up for grabs, so get in there while you can!
Microsoft and Ruffian Games released this 'Crackdown 2' trailer today. It's entitled 'Nothing Is Sacred' and features all the explosions, vehicles, zombies and madness you could possibly want. All my doubts about this game have been lifted - this is going to be AWESOME!
Ahem.. Sorry about that.
The release date currently stands at July 9th. If the developers and publisher can stick to this deadline we won't have all that long to wait at all, thankfully.
Nintendo launches the highly anticipated third game in the 'Monster Hunter' series this Friday in the UK. Read on for the press release for this hotly-anticipated game...
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Check out the new trailer for the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy 2! This game is one of the most highly anticipated releases on the Nintendo Wii this year, which is no surpise considering it's the sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed titles the system has to offer.
As you can see from the trailer above, SMG2 will have players jumping around and getting up to all sorts of space-based shenanigans just like the original Super Mario Galaxy.
I don't want to spoil it too much though, so just watch the video! Make sure you also check out our Super Mario Galaxy 2 Screenshot Gallery!
Check out these screenshots from the hugely anticipated upcoming release of Super Mario Galaxy 2! The sequel sees Mario adventuring in space once more and features all of the cool stuff from the first game and then some.
The current UK Release date for Super Mario Galaxy 2 is June 11th. That's only 6 weeks away!
I don't know much about this original Gameboy, other than the fact that it has had the guts from a much more modern Gameboy Advance SP crammed inside it. That means that it can now play GBA and Gameboy Colour games, as well as original Gameboy games. All of the buttons work and it also features an internal rechargeable battery!
Anime movie Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva is to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the UK this September, UK-based anime distributor Manga Entertainment have announced. The film, based on the hugely successful Professor Layton series of games on the Nintendo DS, has become so popular in Japan that a sequel is also in the works.
Manga have not confirmed whether the film will be dubbed or subtitled, usually an issue of contention among anime fans, however the film has been subtitled into English already for its release in Singapore. The Japanese release has voice work from the actors of that version of the game, so a re-dubbing is a possibility, although I'm willing to bet that the original soundtrack and subtitles will be available on the DVD for hardcore anime fans.
More news as we get it!
Introducing two products which are new to ConsoleBUZZ - our DS Lite Travel Adapter / Car Charger and our DSi Travel Adapter / Car Charger (also suitable for DSi XL). These power adapters are perfect for travelling in the car, boat, caravan, or anywhere else there is a 12V "cigar lighter" power socket.
Our adapters come with a very generous 140cm (4'6") cable (which should easily extend into the back seats of any car) and are compatible with the latest models of DS. Follow the links above to check them out!
Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System (better known as the SNES) was released here in 1992, and took the gaming world by storm. Gamers these days think that the Microsft vs. Sony vs. Nintendo is the be-all-and-all, but the truth is that the console wars were raging almost 20 years ago too. The contenders were the Sega Megadrive, the Nintendo SNES, and the popular home computers like the Atari ST and Amiga.
The SNES brought us classics like Zelda: Link To The Past, Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger, and Donkey Kong Country, as well as its own versions of popular games at the time like Lemmings and Street Fighter II. It also brought Super Mario Kart to the table, a game which featured popular characters from the world of Mario duking it out in a fun and totally original go-kart racing game.
Super Mario Kart is well worth checking out, for older gamers to fulfil their need for nostalgia and for younger gamers to get a taste of where the long line of Mario Kart games started. Considered by fans to be the best in the series, at 800 Wii Points it's a must buy.
Super Mario Kart is available on Wii Virtual Console now! More details on Nintendo's official page here.
Some more good news for DS fans! The hugely successful Nintendo DS family is getting a whole new member. As if the DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL weren't enough, Nintendo have confirmed that we're getting the 3DS, a 3D iteration of the popular handheld.
Rumour has it that the 3DS will sport the following features (according to Nikkei):
These rumours are supposedly directly from inside Nintendo, so I'm hedging my bets that all of these features will be making it into the new handheld. Nintendo will unveil the new device officially at E3 in June, so there's not too long to wait.
The 3DS will be backwards compatible with all existing games and DS accessories, although rumour has it that it will not be carrying the DS name at all and may be the first in a new handheld family for Nintendo. The line has been around since 2004, so that would also match up nicely with the 6 year "offifcial" lifespan of the original Game Boy.
More news in June, or as and when it comes in!
Good news everyone! The latest and greatest R4i Gold firmware update is here. The version 1.31 update doesn't add any new functionality or bug fixes, however it does add support for the latest and greatest games. If you're having trouble getting a game running on your R4i Gold, this update would be a very good place to start.
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The Xbox 360 Red Ring of Death (usually) rears its ugly head when the GPU and/or CPU begin to overheat due to insufficient cooling. These failures are often attributed to Microsft's barely-adequate cooling system on early units, bad or just badly-applied thermal compound (which can hinder heat conduction between the chips and the heatsinks), dust accumulation, and users who do not give their consoles enough room to "breathe".
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Way, way back in the mid-1980s, Nintendo's 8-bit NES console was where it was at. They sold millions of the things all over the world (over 60 million to be exact), and introduced gamers to the likes of Mario, Zelda, and Mega Man. The console was sold until 2003 in Japan, giving it one of the longest lifespans of any games console ever made.
In Japan, the NES was known as the Famicom, short for "Family Computer". As well as being a games console, it was also marketed as a full-blown computer, with a keyboard and various software applications available to justify the purchase to any self-respecting parent.
Fast-forward 25 years and we have this - an homage to the Famicom days of old. An intrepid casemodder has crammed a modern PC into its retrolicious case, bringing it bang up to date. Well, actually it's running Windows 2000, but I guess that gives it even more retro charm.
The motherboard is a Pico-ITX running a 1GHz Via C7 CPU. It's equipped with a 16GB SSD for near-silent operation, just like the original. I bet that squidgy old keyboard is fun to type on!
Check out the complete collection of build videos and photos here (site is in Japanese).
Last year's Ghostbusters game for the Wii was surprisingly good, making excellent use of the console's motion controls. But those standard Wii controllers aren't enough for some people as this excellent mod by GBFans forum member irrelevanttomfoolery proves.
The pack's creator has this to say:
"The cyclotron features four blue LEDs allowing you to know which player is selected or active and the Blue Power Cell actually shows you how much power the pack has. The Thrower has been carefully designed in regards to ergonomics and function. The front of the wand has an area in which you can place the Wii-mote and the back handle is where the Nunchuck is placed. Since the Wii-mote has in internal speaker in it's ABS housing, when playing the game the pack makes all the iconic Ghostbusters SFX. And being that the Wii utilizes wireless technology, the wand is not tethered to the pack via a cord."
He's also going to be making a video of the thing in action... Watch this space!
Here at ConsoleBUZZ, we're starting to expand our horizons and branch out from the Nintendo ecosystem we've become such a big part of. Over the coming months we'll be adding a range of console accessories for a whole slew of consoles, starting with the Xbox 360.
First up we're selling a complete Xbox 360 RROD repair kit. This fantastic kit includes our very own comprehensive photo instructions, as well as the screws, washers, and thermal paste you need to effect a successful (and hopefully permanent) Red Ring of Death fix.
Unlike those ebay boys, we're also giving buyers the option to add an Xbox 360 case opening tool and a nice set of Torx T8 and T10 screwdrivers if they wish. The basic kit will be available for just £2.99, while the complete kit with Xbox 360 case opening tool and Torx screwdrivers is a very wallet-friendly £9.99. The Torx screwdrivers can be used for other electronic projects too!
Watch this space for availability.
The Wii MotionPlus, which was introduced last year, is starting to come into its stride and taking the world of Wii gaming by storm. It allows supported games to use an extra motion sensor which makes the Wii Remote Controller much more sensitive, allowing never-before-seen realism in everything from racquet control in tennis to sword control in sword fighting.
Also, buying a Wii MotionPlus seperately is the only way a second player can enjoy Wii Sports Resort, as it will only work with one player out of the box.
It's difficult to get hold of an official genuine Nintendo Wii MotionPlus at the right price in the UK, but they'll soon be coming to ConsoleBUZZ and benefit from our legendary free shipping and fast service from our warehouse in the UK. You'll soon find them in our Wii Controllers & Accessories category, so stay tuned to the blog to find out when they're available!
The wealth of legal DS "homebrew" apps includes a port of the Linux Operating System.
Nintendo has had its case against the Divineo group, a major trade supplier of the popular R4 and other flashcarts for the company's DS handheld system, dropped in a French court on Friday. The judge ruled that the devices open up the system to software development, and that Nintendo have deliberately been locking out developers from its consoles.
It was suggested by the court that Nintendo should open up its hardware platforms for development by anyone, much like Microsoft's Windows operating system.
Of course, this is a major blow to the company's anti-piracy efforts, from which they have every right to protect their business, but it does highlight the perfectly legitimate uses of these flash-based devices. If Nintendo added proper media support and completely opened up the DS to homebrew games developers, not only would they increase sales by increasing the usefulness of the system, but they'd also kill off the market for these "piracy-enabling" devices.
That's a win-win situation, I'd say.
A hopelessly besotted Japanese gamer, known by his online tag of Sal9000, has just tied the knot with his girlfriend Nene Anegasaki. Her best friend gave a moving speech at the wedding, and the event was streamed live on Nico Nico Douga, a Japanese video site of which Sal9000 is a member. He then took her on a romantic honeymoon to Guam.
Lovely, romantic stuff - but all is not as it seems!
You see, the odd thing about our lovestruck couple is that the bride isn't actually a real person at all - she's part of Japanese "romance simulator" Love Plus, a game for Nintendo's DS handheld console. The game allows players to choose a virtual girlfriend, wine and dine her, keep her company, play games with her, and, er, maybe other things (I don't speak Japanese, but the pictures on the official website are quite suggestive).
I'm not sure if this is a publicity stunt or what, and it all seems a bit strange to me, but he looks happy enough. How long before she finds him flirting with the new DSi or - worse yet - a PSP?
DeviantArt user Thretris has a thing for painting classic Nintendo consoles, and this awesome Kill Bill themed duo caught my eye. Nintendo have always been well known for releasing lots of different limited editions and colour options for their systems over the years (the crazy Pokemon N64 and millions of colour variations of the original Gameboy spring to mind), but the NES mostly missed out on this.
Of course, Tarantino's wild west / kung fu / gangster epic wasn't around back in the days of the NES and Gameboy, but that doesn't stop the film's striking visual style from looking anything but awesome when gracing these retro consoles.
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BBC News have announced today that, due to the huge popularity of their online video service iPlayer with the UK's 6 million Wii owners, they will soon be releasing a dedicated player for the console. The downloadable channel will install directly to the Wii's home screen and will allow users to bypass the web browser and view on-demand TV programmes directly throught their TV and home entertainment system.
The BBC have announced that the new channel will also support radio, with some unique animations and visualisations, and will utilise the Wii Remote's vibration feedback in some capacity. Of course, HDTV owners will probably benefit from a component video cable for the best possible picture quality while using the service.
The dedicated channel is a response to user complaints about the original browser-based interface, and is available from the Wii Shop Channel on November 18th. It is only available to users with a broadband connection in the UK.
We now have fantastic Wii Remote and Nunchuck controllers in stock! We sold out of our OEM controllers in no time at all last time, and while we couldn't get those again this time, we did manage to source these fantastic Japanese imports. As with all of our stock we ship them direct from our UK warehouse and delivery is free!
Order now and get them in time for Christmas!
We've had real trouble keeping our Wii Remote and Nunchuck controllers in stock, and who can blame us at this price? There have been a lot of enquiries about whether they will ever be returning, so we're pleased to announce that we have a large shipment of these coming in during the next few weeks - just in time for Christmas!
As soon as they arrive we'll be updating the site to make them available once more, so hang in there and we'll keep you posted.
Did you know that the Wii Remote and Wii Nunchuck are also available separately? Aren't we good to you!
This LEGO Mario is a whopping 6ft tall, and was built by intrepid Dutch builders extraordinaire Game Mania. It's so big, in fact, that it's actually claimed the title of the biggest LEGO Mario in the world! Don't worry about stability though - it has an internal framework and has been glued together for strength. The entire model contains over 40,000 LEGO bricks.
It's up for auction on the Dutch ebay site, with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald house, a charity that supports critically ill children and their families. The current asking price is €2550. I'm not sure what the little Luigi statue is all about, but it's not included in the auction.
We could do with one of these to brighten up the place here at ConsoleBUZZ!
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We're introducing some new lines over the coming weeks, and first up will be the DS cases you see above. They're suitable for the Nintendo DS Lite and DSi. We've also set up a new Nintendo DS Cases category so that you can check them all out in one place!
The new designs feature Pikachu, of Pokemon fame, and a mushroom from the Mario games. They're big enough to safely carry a DS Lite or the new DSi, and have a secure velcro fixing. The soft yet tough construction will keep your handheld safe from knocks and scratches.
Look out for them appearing on the site in the next 2 weeks!
Nintendo have finally announced a release date for the long-awaited black Wii bundle, and that date is November 6th. That puts the newly-released console on shelves just in time for Christmas, and if previous releases are anything to go by supplies should be tight - not helped by the fact that this bundle is strictly limited edition.
The black bundle (pictured above) includes the following:
There will also be a classic controller (also pictured above) available separately. This bundle is exclusive to Europe, as the black Wii isn't available in America until an unannounced date in the future. The bundle releases in the rest of Europe on November 20th.
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It's that time of year again, and it's looking like it's going to be a busy time for the happy little elves at ConsoleBUZZ. We recently decided that we'd discontinue our old range of flashcarts to concentrate on those that are compatible with the latest DSi firmware 1.4 update (don't worry - they also work with the original DS and DS Lite!). The reason we took this decision was to reduce potential compatibility issues and potential disappointment for our customers - there's nothing worse than opening your new flash cart on Christmas morning only to discover that it doesn't work with your shiny new DSi.
So, here are a few tips for DSi owners out there, old and new, looking to buy a new flash cartridge in the coming months:
Buy a well-known brand
The R4 is arguably the best-known name in Nintendo DS flash cartridges, with TopToy's DSTT a very close second. Some of the lesser-known flash cartridge manufacturers out there can fade into obscurity, leaving their users stranded without software updates.
Avoid cheap clones
It helps to spend the right money for these cards, and make sure they're from a reputable source - there are plenty of cheap clones of these cards around, and they're plagued with reliability problems, not to mention compatibility issues with the "official" firmware.
Buy from UK stock
All of our flash carts are shipped from stock from our very own UK warehouse (for free!). There are plenty of disreputable sellers out there who hide the fact that they drop ship from China, potentially leaving the customer with the bill for customs charges and extortionate airmail shipping fees. It also means that they can't personally test and update every cartridge, which is what we do to ensure that your experience is as painless as possible.
Don't buy old stock
Due to some of the "shadier" uses of these carts, Nintendo blocked them with a recent firmware update. The now-notorious DSi 1.4 firmware rendered most R4 cartridges useless. Only the very latest R4i Gold supports DSi firmware 1.4, and some retailers are selling off old stock without mentioning compatibility. Don't fall into the trap - when it comes to flash cartridges, you get what you pay for!
A flash cartridge should give years of enjoyment, and can really help to enhance and expand your new handheld investment. If you follow the simple hints above, you can avoid many of the pitfalls which can be involved in buying one of these cards.
If you have any more questions at all about flash carts, please do contact us via our contact form or by email. You can get hold of a DSTTi flashcart here or an R4i flashcart here. As an added bonus, all of our flash carts come with a 2GB MicroSD card and USB reader - everything you need to get you started!
Check out this awesome Mario rug, hand crafted by Crafster user enemyairship. As you can see, Mario's wearing his famous Tanuki suit which enables him to fly. The rug measures 7ft x 7ft and is made up of 386 individual granny squares, each one representing a pixel. The rug took 15 days to complete, and should go along very nicely with enemyairship's other Mario-inspired work, including the leather ottoman you see above.
Keep up the good work!
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