I've recently come into knowledge of a new peripheral known as the Novint Falcon.
Cue the youtube clip: [link]
It's interesting since instead of replacing the whole keyboard/mouse setup, it just replaces the mouse.

It provides, quote, 'force feedback for multiple different forces in games, such as weapon recoil, avatar forces (bumping into walls, falling onto something), texture of things, such as touching a bumpy ball, engine idling (for games with cars)' for any current games that have been licensed by Novint. Ie. Halflife 2, EP1 and EP2, TF2, Crysis, etc.
Cue Novint's homepage: [link]

I've just ordered a limited edition from ebay (cue): [link] for about 187AU$, also costing about 90-100AU$ for postage.

I'll make another mention when I have it set up and tested.


Other news, however, I have recently been named as our store's 'Outstanding Crew Member of the Year!' Crew rally coming up in Adelaide, not long from now. I think it's worth a mention.

Oh, and our McCafe is coming along nicely, front bench is sitting in place with a fridge on it, back bench is in place and a cupboard I suppose is in place above the back bench. Electricity and plumbing is done, except for the actual power points, tiles are down on the floor, so hoorah for that. Our walls still need to be painted, more tiles to be put up on the walls, ceiling needs some more work, front is still being ripped up and set up, framing for the signage and odd bobs out the front is coming along slowly.

Also, new Bubblegum flavour Frozen Fanta. Aka, Frozen Blue!