Monday, December 29, 2008
I Am The Customer You're Looking For
Not much more than 48 hours remain in 2008. Even if I could spend every single one of them playing video games, something would remain unappreciated on my bookshelf.
Of course, I cannot spend two straight days playing games, and despite the abundance of titles to choose from I find my list of available digital entertainment expanding rather than contracting. Richard came to town this weekend with his mom and stepdad and we exchangedChristmas Kurisumasu gifts. Long story short: we now both own copies of Resistance 2 and LittleBigPlanet, two games that really demand a partner to play with. I can't imagine we'll have "finished" them before Resident Evil 5 comes out in the Spring, which also looks to be a sensational cooperative experience.
Speaking of which, I'm still feeling rather jazzed about my accomplishment earlier in the evening. Sony decided to offer a choice of two discs to new PlayStation 3 customers in Japan. Both discs contain a handful of demo software, but Resident Evil 5 in particular stands out because it's highly anticipated and the demo is not otherwise available to the public (at least not PS3 owners). I saw the sign in our local electronics store and it clearly said "available only with purchase [of a PS3]" but I decided I'd try to chat up the clerk and see if I couldn't work him over. After all, I bought a PS3 barely six months earlier from that very store, surely I should not be penalized for being proactive in my video game purchases? Besides, what's it to this guy if I get a disc loaded with free samples? That kind of stuff should be handed out to the masses anyway.
So I grabbed the sign and walked up to the guy and asked "these discs aren't for sale, are they?" He agreed, noting that they were only for customers buying new PS3s. I smiled and said "But I bought a PS3 this year. Am I supposed to buy a second one for this?" He got my drift and grabbed a nearby phone to ask...somebody. It didn't matter who - I knew the hard part was over. If he wanted to brush me off, he would have done so already. Indeed, the phone conversation was extremely brief. Whoever he called, that guy clearly didn't want to hear it. He probably barked "Give him the damn disc, you idiot. He's a customer." After all, here in Japan I am always right and heaven forbid I feel less than honored to be in their store. In a flash (yes, he did run) I was given my choice of free discs. I chose wisely.
I wish I could really cap this tale off with a story of what I think of this gift I procured, but the truth is I haven't had a chance to actually play the damn thing. When we got back from shopping it was dinnertime and after dinner Mako got locked into watching TV. It hasn't been all bad, considering I did just see Ray Parker Jr. sing for the first time in 25 years (yeah, he sang exactly what I thought he would). It's just that after whipping out a Jedi mind trick and convincing this guy to give me something for free, I want to take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts. It's only a matter of time before that demo becomes widely available - in English no less - and then my gambit will have been for naught.
Of course, I cannot spend two straight days playing games, and despite the abundance of titles to choose from I find my list of available digital entertainment expanding rather than contracting. Richard came to town this weekend with his mom and stepdad and we exchanged
Speaking of which, I'm still feeling rather jazzed about my accomplishment earlier in the evening. Sony decided to offer a choice of two discs to new PlayStation 3 customers in Japan. Both discs contain a handful of demo software, but Resident Evil 5 in particular stands out because it's highly anticipated and the demo is not otherwise available to the public (at least not PS3 owners). I saw the sign in our local electronics store and it clearly said "available only with purchase [of a PS3]" but I decided I'd try to chat up the clerk and see if I couldn't work him over. After all, I bought a PS3 barely six months earlier from that very store, surely I should not be penalized for being proactive in my video game purchases? Besides, what's it to this guy if I get a disc loaded with free samples? That kind of stuff should be handed out to the masses anyway.
So I grabbed the sign and walked up to the guy and asked "these discs aren't for sale, are they?" He agreed, noting that they were only for customers buying new PS3s. I smiled and said "But I bought a PS3 this year. Am I supposed to buy a second one for this?" He got my drift and grabbed a nearby phone to ask...somebody. It didn't matter who - I knew the hard part was over. If he wanted to brush me off, he would have done so already. Indeed, the phone conversation was extremely brief. Whoever he called, that guy clearly didn't want to hear it. He probably barked "Give him the damn disc, you idiot. He's a customer." After all, here in Japan I am always right and heaven forbid I feel less than honored to be in their store. In a flash (yes, he did run) I was given my choice of free discs. I chose wisely.
I wish I could really cap this tale off with a story of what I think of this gift I procured, but the truth is I haven't had a chance to actually play the damn thing. When we got back from shopping it was dinnertime and after dinner Mako got locked into watching TV. It hasn't been all bad, considering I did just see Ray Parker Jr. sing for the first time in 25 years (yeah, he sang exactly what I thought he would). It's just that after whipping out a Jedi mind trick and convincing this guy to give me something for free, I want to take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts. It's only a matter of time before that demo becomes widely available - in English no less - and then my gambit will have been for naught.
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