"...A lot of my friends use Facebook"

Aaaaand you just answered your own question on why it's so popular. It's because everyone uses it. So you can find damned near anyone you'd ever want to hear from. MySpace had the title until the lack of security features and ability to redecorate until your eyes bled killed it.

Hah, I knew I should have capitalized that 'O'. Still, I like your take better.

To be fair though, Bethesda rescued the series from oblivion.

"why do people take the lawyers side when this sign was probably designed by a fan of the fallout series..."

Because that theoretical fan is using the image to make money. But we assume things here, it might not be the owner. It could be whomever the owner hired to make the logo.

While businesses have the right to shut any IP use down (witness the early days of the web, like Star Trek and X-Files), these days it's usually only when you're trying to make a buck off their stuff.

"I kind of wish that they would have chosen a made-up country instead..."

I always thought the custom misguided. I mean sure, if it's a fantasy game it's easy to buy that the fight does not take place in Iraq, Russia, etc. However, take games like CoD4 using real world maps. It seems more than a little disingenuous to pretend that we're in Boraq when clearly we're in Iraq. Does the thin veneer of fakery make Iraqi nationals happier about the portrayal?

Dunno, we do use fictional cities, nations, and people all the time in fiction (movies, books, etc). However, it's usually to avoid inconsistency with real places or people than a paper shield against reactions. I'm not sure I can reconcile revulsion at the scene being set in Russia with a lack of revulsion at the scene being placed in Comradia: Either way we are meant to feel something at the brutality.

"That couldn't be because america thinks it is the world, could it? ;-)"

What? You mean like the former British Empire, which also got its but kicked in exotic locales by poorly armed natives? We learned if from you dad, WE LEARNED IT FROM YOU. =p

"...There, you were having WAY too much fun with that thing."

Actually, I think it was my soapbox you stole. I'm way too lazy to jump to conclusions.

"...but how about we give back to the fine folks at Blizzard and Infinity Ward that got them there through their hard work toiling on actually MAKING the games!"

What, do you think they're earning minimum wage? I'm pretty sure a junior programmer over there makes more than I do, and rightfully so. Like CP, I've not heard many good things about Bobby, but he seems to have earned his paycheck: If anything, he's a model for executive compensation rather than a warning against it.

Personally, I have no problem with huge executive bonuses as long as they are paid to a person A: Doing their job, B: A person that is personally invested in the company, and C: That company is doing very well for itself under the leadership. I'm not arguing against accountability, only against using that as a pathway to the thought that no one deserves to be filthy rich.

I'm not quite sure which is a worse society: One that has a wealthy elite that didn't earn a penny of their income, or a society of proles that think money belongs to them for nothing.

"I have a British accent, does that make me hot?"

Depends on the region, but to an American woman or gay male, yes. Now female Irish brogue does it for me. Red hair would just be cream on a very sexy cake. Since this is just fantasy talk, we'll assume she's supermodel hot too.

Of course, you do realize that if FFVII were offered on either the Wii or 360 it would be the top selling downloadable on those platforms too? Love it or hate it, FFVII is iconic and much beloved as a game by others.