Watch a GameStop employee make an ass out of himself.

I have decided GameStop no longer deserves my business.

Yesterday I visited a GameStop store because a flyer on their door caught my eye. It said I could get double in-store credit for my game system trade-in. Now, before I entered the store I did some quick math in my brain:

The normal trade-in value for a Nintendo 3DS is about $80.00. I say about because I'm aware prices fluctuate. A new nintendo 3DSXL costs $199.99. Therefore 199.99 - ( 80 * 2) = 39.99. HOLYCRAP! I can upgrade for just 40 bucks? Where do I sign? I rushed inside and asked for the trade-in value of a 3DS under this new promotion. The man kindly said it's about $100.00. Wait a minute! 80 * 2 > 100! I calmly asked; Is the regular trade-in value around $50.00? The man explained the prices fluctuate, which is perfectly understandable, but then he went on. He said something to the effect of "They play with the values a bit before the promotion, but it's still the most we've ever offered." Please note the word he used was "play".

How kind of him. I walked out. I'm not a victim. I was not ripped off. I don't need to sell my 3DS. I don't need a 3DSXL. But I decided to vent online about how I almost fell for the bait and switch, and hopefully an any potential victims. This is what happened:

I posted a screen capture in case they delete the post, but the conversation is still ongoing here.

Now the subject of the post changes entirely. Let's say Ryan Smith (identified as games Advisor for GameStop on his Google+ profile) is absolutely right. Let's say there is no bait and switch and I should be grateful I'm getting double in-store credit. Fine. Why is he verbally abusing me? I'm not just a dude on the internet, I'm a customer at his employer's place of business, therefore I'm HIS customer! I found it particularly disgusting how he used all that hardcore corporate capitalist jargon at the end. His words, to me, represent the thoughts of an entire corporation.

Well, I guess there isn't much left to say, the comments say it all. Feel free to click the link and tell Mr. Smith (or me) how you feel about their trade-in policies and the quality of ther customer service. My point is that I'm not spending another dime on GameStop.

I have placed a complaint with GameStop and will update when they respond.

UPDATE: No answer from GameStop yet. The man has changed his employment status in G+ before denying working there.

You want Mario on your iPhone and I want a real life baby unicorn.

I don't always blog, but when I do, it's because of something stupid I saw on the Internet.

Listen, I've had it up to here with your stupid "Nintendo should start making IOS/Android games" posts. You're stupid and so is your mother's face. - me

Lately I've observed this disturbing trend were professional video game writers and so called analysts go on rambling about how Nintendo should pull a SEGA and start selling their games on smartphones and tablets.

I've commented on these posts whenever I see them, but haters just won't listen to reason. I think now I understand why. The key word here is "should". I can't call out the fallacy because of THAT word. Were they saying "Nintendo must", "it would be profitable to Nintendo if" or anything among those lines, my argument that Nintendo sells consoles at a loss and only starts making profit after a few games are sold for each would suffice.

Should (SHo͝od), Verb

• Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions: "he should have been careful".

• Indicating a desirable or expected state: "by now students should be able to read".

By that logic. I could make a blog post about how the people of the world should unite and name me their new leader. I also think IOS and Android should make love and give birth to baby iDroids, which they would hand out for FREE, preloaded with each piece of software ever known to man. They would also have a Sega Genesis cartridge slot, and it would come packaged with Sonic 3 AND Sonic & Knuckles cartridges. Why should they? Because that's what I want, Isn't that a valid reason?

Listen, Mario is, right now, the most recognized character in video games, and the franchise is the top selling video game franchise of all time. OF ALL TIME! Hell, Mario is arguably more popular than Mickey Mouse! And that's on Nintendo systems alone (and the occasional odd PC licence). Would the franchise sell better if it were available on smartphones? Logic dictates YES, but it doesn't need to sell any better! Not only is it selling well, its selling best, and that's better enough.

Fact: People buy Nintendo consoles to play Nintendo games, and their oft-criticized lack of third party support aids my argument. Wii is the best selling console of this generation, matched only by XBOX 360, but the sales figures for those don't mention that avid fanboys repeatedly buy replacement consoles whenever their Xboxes die, and that the system has been repachaged a million times. The only reason Wii sales have dwindled recently is because of the Wii U.

Finally, always remember Nintendo is a hardware company, just like Apple is a hardware company. Apple makes all kinds of neat software and services to sell their hardware, to the point some of their hardware is actually popular because of the software. Apple is known because their software, especially the operating systems, are built from the ground up along the hardware, and you don't see people asking Apple to sell IOS on Samsung devices. So why should Nintendo allow their competition to use their software? Is it because their hardware is selling so poorly, kinda like what SEGA did? Well, kiddo, the difference between SEGA and Nintendo's (and I'm a SEGA fanboy before a Nintendo fanboy) is that their hardware actually sells a lot better than their competition, even though the loud minority composed of "hardcore" gamer wants you to think otherwise. Just look at the sales numbers.

So quit whining about how you want Mario on your iPhone or Pokemon on your Android, buy a goddamned Nintendo system or STFU and GTFO.

The Damsel In Distress

Just in time for international women's day, this video comes up, reminding us of a serious issue that is still rampant in the world of gaming, sexism.

Do you think this will turn into a PR disaster for Nintendo? I hope it doesn't, but this, together with turning their only good female character into a bootylicious blonde with daddy issues in Metroid Other M, should not go unnoticed. To be honest, I lost a bit of respect for Miyamoto after watching that video.

What are your thoughts? Please comment! In the meantime, here's a video of a hacked Donkey Kong game on which Pauline saves Mario.