Why I Hate Sports Games - Never again!

[Musashi]

Alright guys, I don't usually post rants, but for once there is something that deserves it. Musashi's annual rant: The problem of sports games, sports gamers (at least this particular bunch), out-of-date computer systems and store rioting (yes RIOTING).

Disclaimer: Any and all instances of the word "You" are not aimed at anyone on this site, but rather at idiot customers in general or idiot corporate bigwigs.

Ok, for those of you who don't know, I am the unfortunate current employee at a Gamestop. This week, I've had the luxury of working in hell (Gamestop) on a couple of the hottest days of the year. These days would be the shipping and release date of Madden 2004. I'm going to start off by saying I absolutely hate sports and sports games (though I will watch an occasional baseball game). Frankly, I do not understand in the least why people insist on buying them every year. To me, it seems that EA and every other sports publisher out there simply remanufacture the same crappy product every year and everyone goes nuts over it. Sure, there may be an added feature here or graphical improvement there, but when it really comes down to it, its still just the same boring football (or basketball, baseball, etc etc, take your pick). The only sports games I've ever really had fun playing (aside from some of the old NES games) have been the Sega Tennis games. I have nothing against buying sports games in general, except that I find them boring as heck, but I really can't see the point in buying more than one on a given system or even generation of systems. To use an example, to me its like buying Splinter Cell or Soul Calibur II on Gamecube, Xbox, and PS2 just for the minor upgrades on each. Just seems like a waste to me. This is especially true with people that pay full price for them every year, when if you bought the same sports game every year, but a year behind the current release, you'd get five years versions for the price of one. Anyway, with that said, I find the games in and of themselves to be simply an easy way for EA to gain revenue, nothing more. If you disagree with me, then you will probably disagree with the rest of this rant, but this is how I feel.

Now, for the real rants. The first rant is for phone calls the day before Madden comes out. Yes, I realize you are excited about a new (or is it rehashed) sports game. Yes, I realize you have reserved and want to make sure you get your copy. Of course, you were already informed that you are guaranteed a copy and will receive a phone call when your game arrives, so its kinda pointless. However, pointless questions should be avoided over the phone, such as "how much do I owe?" Whenever anyone asked that, my first response was "how much did you put down?" Of course, they always knew this. At this point, its a simple matter of basic arithmetic. 95% of games for the current systems come out with a $49.99 price tag and the balance is always told when someone makes a reservation. Even if you don't remember, venture a logical guess, or look online. Since it is the same game from year to year, you could probably judge by how much you paid LAST YEAR. And don't even get me started on the number of people who can't compute tax. Ok, I understand there are a few people out there who may really need to know exactly to the dime how much something will cost, but the vast majority of us always take a little more than we think we need if simply because we would have to break the larger bills, so reasonable estimation would work. It would make my life a lot simpler and clear up the phone for the next idiot who can't subtract. Oh, and while I'm on the topic of phones, there should be a law prohibiting kids 12 and under from using the telephone to call a place of business, especially while school's in session. I was amazed at the number of kids we had calling, on the first day of school even. Finally, don't ask me to hold the hottest game of the year for two weeks until you get paid again. You knew it was coming, you should've planned in advance (yes, this did happen).

Alright, the next rant is for rioting over the release of the latest Madden game. Actually, there are two reasons for this rant. The first, admittedly goes to Gamestop and their piece of crap out-of-date reseravtions system. This system, is STILL almost completely paper-based. Thus, there are 500 of these slips which are individual's deposits floating around. Of COURSE some are going to get lost. It happens every year but they have yet to do a thing about it. Not only that, but guaranteed if we are told a time a game will be delivered, we will call all our reservation customers to inform them, but the game will be at least an hour late if not more. Sure, ya do a great job of over-allocating "big-release" games to us while under-allocating "low-run niche titles." Frankly, you guys need to get your act together to avoid this kind of a situation ever again. ...Now for the actual story...in which the rant shifts to idiot customers...

While I was not actually present for this, the story relayed to me makes me never want to work in retail, games, or customer service ever again. Madden was supposed to arrive at 9 pm Monday night, so all reservations were called and informed. The customers began to arrive about 7 pm. However, due to Gamestop's lack of preparation, the games did not arrive until 10:30 pm, pissing off quite a few customers. These customers proceeded to yell, curse, throw things, steal, try to come behind the counter, try to go in the back room, etc, etc, etc. No, I am not exaggerating on any of this. Oh, and complaining about having to wait with the other 400 people standing beside you is only going to make things slower. You knew coming in the door you were going to have to wait. How do you think we feel? We have to stay 2 or 3 hours later than you to clean up after your mess. Frankly cops should have been called (though they weren't, that is until my boss finally got to leave the store at 3 am and needed a police escort to ensure his safety to his car) and the hostile customers escorted out and sent home empty handed. Oh, and WHY would I hide the games in the back and not sell them to you?? Yeah, I know, my coworkers just want to sit there all evening and pretend we don't want your business and horde 500 copies of a rehash for ourselves. Frankly, if we people would act like rational human beings instead of losing their minds in mob mentality, things would have gone a lot smoother and everyone would have been home with their game much earlier and happier. Do we really need to have security escorts and only allow two people in the store at a time.

Oh yeah, and Gamestop had better never tell me to "have fun" with a Madden release again.

Last, but not least, the rant for "the day after." At this point, the store is a wreck from the night before. Reservation tags are missing due to idiot customers who decided THEY should be coming behind the counter and rummaging through them the night before. Corporate is backlogged with calls trying to verify reservation tag numbers so we can deduct the appropriate deposit value from the game. And finally l get to here how bad it was for the poor people that 1. their reservation tag is missing or 2. got tired of waiting the night before. Oh boo hoo hoo! You had to wait. So did EVERYONE ELSE. The customers were all finished by 12:30 am, but the last of my coworkers didn't leave until 3 am. And if people weren't idiots, you might not have had to wait near as long. And as for the people who's tags are lost. Well, blame it on the guy complaining about the wait the night before standing next to you.

Frankly, the past two days at work have sucked. I already didn't care much for sports games, but now I cringe at even the thought of playing them. Idiot customers make my life suck. The company apparently doesn't give a crap, or they'd have this system fixed by now. It's not like this is the ONLY Madden game to ever come out, it happens every year like clockwork. How about moving into the 20th century and eliminating some of the paperwork guys.

Anyway, maybe I went a little overboard. Hopefully I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. I do realize football games can be a religious issue for some people. But frankly, this is my third Madden release I've worked and it just gets worse and worse every year. This year was by far the worst experience I've known working retail, even worse than Christmas Eve or the Friday after Thanksgiving. Sciler, I certainly hope your experience was at least slightly better than this. Oh, and anyone who actually read this whole thing gets a cookie.

[kittenofsences]

:: waits for cookie:::
::waits::
::cries because she didnt get it::
::sniffles:: well anyway...
I understand where you are coming from. I basically run a restaurant for my boss half the week and constantly picky people complain about there food and how it isnt just right. Really you can say I want it a little more cooked then you might cook it or a little more rare and so on or change the sides and no one cares as long as you say it before your food gets there. Then those people who come in and bounce around from being impatient then give you dirty looks and so on. Finally the worst of them all... when he has me working at another one of his stores which is a convienience store some of the people try to steal because they say its over priced... most everything is a dollar or under/ guys and girls will come in "flaunting it" then will come up and expect either a discount, extras, or not to have to pay.

Hang in there if you can and wait till one day when someone bothers you to the breaking point and tell them off.

Oh and with all kinds of games video and card in general I find rediculious. It causes obsessions, compitition, and a severe distraction for those who get into them and waste there money on them instead of going out and doing something.

::beats the shit out of boyfriend for playing his video games around her:: :anime:

BE STRONG
lol

[Minosheep]

BLAM!

I get a cookie! Man, that's really gotta suck. I've never found enjoyment in sports games(except for Downhill Domination.).

[Sciler]

~laughs~ I already told you this, but you should be used to it by now. Chibi and I think you are still but a video gaming padawan and we are the jedi masters ~giggles some more~

[Ultrawolf]

[Musashi]

Padawan eh Sciler? I'll remind you of that when I program my first game. When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master. And I have no qualm w/ being a master of evil, bwa hahahaha! :p *Passes cookies out to everyone but Sci and Chibi*

But seriously, I am used it. Like I said, its not like this doesn't happen every year, not to mention Black Friday. But just because I'm used to it doesn't mean I have to like it. :Oo:

[Ultrawolf]

cookies? COOKIES???? *eats all the cookies* :moo:

[Doot]

[Righty The Wonder Ghoul]

HEY! just because my thumbs arent as cool as your's Doot!

yeah, people suck. yeah, big corporations suck. yeah, being responsible for other people's mess sucks. yeah, most things in life suck. life goes on. and sucks somewhere else.

gimme my cookie.

[Ultrawolf]