Dirty Video Games

I took the above picture with my cellphone.  Copied from my personal blog:

When I went into my local Gamestop today, I noticed that the clear cabinets behind the counter had their glass replaced by that black glass that you can’t see through. I walked up to the assistant manager, who is also a really good friend of mine, and said, “So what? You got porn back there? Can I buy some?” We both laughed. He said, “Girl, I KNOW! It looks so ghetto!”

I understand that security is an important issue in loss prevention for any retail location. However, I see two major problems with the black glass (aside from the look). First of all, the employees can’t just look to see if they have a game in stock. They now have to take the time to search the point-of-sale database. Or ask the manager on duty for the key so they can unlock it, open it, and then look. In stores with high customer traffic, this can slow things down. I hate standing in line for long periods of time, waiting for the cashiers and I know there are people who hate it more than I do. They’re the ones that make scenes.

My second issue is a bit more psychological. My joke about porn isn’t all that far off the mark. When you buy something that’s hidden from view, it has connotations of being pornographic and publicly inappropriate. Where do you often see black glass windows? Adult entertainment stores and strip clubs. So whenever I buy a game now, they’re going to pull it out from a cabinet with black glass. You know that feeling of guilt that you feel when you go to the adult video store and buy something? I think subconsciously customer may feel a bit of that when they buy their games, whether it’s Pokemon or Grand Theft Auto. This is not how you want your customers to feel when buying games. It’s bad enough that we have people like Jack Thompson trying to blame every human evil deed on video games. We don’t need to feel guilty buying the damned things.

I asked my friend if all the Gamestop locations were doing this and he said that it was just this district and only if they didn’t have the new cabinets. He also mentioned that he’s gotten several customers asking if they started carrying AO (Adult Only) games…lol.

DS Accessories for the Sophisticated Woman

Via Dengeki, I came across some accessories for the Nintendo DS that look a LOT like cosmetics cases.  The company is called infem.in and their website looks like something you’d expect from one of those high priced designer companies like Chanel or Gucci.  To the right of a photo of a model with perfect long legs it says, “私は、美しく遊ぶ。”  This essentially translates to, “I play beautifully.”  There’s a case for your DS games (1000 yen), a screen cleaner that looks a LOT like a face powder thing with a mirror (800 yen), a stylish touch pen (700 yen), a hard case (1200 yen), a soft carrying pouch (1500 yen), and protectors for your screen (650 yen).  Is this for those people who like to play games, but don’t want to look like an otaku?  lol (more…)

Phantasy Star Portable Accessory Set

On July 31st, Hori is releasing a Phantasy Star Portable Accessory Pack for 2814 yen (~$26).  It includes a clear case, UMD holder, and headphones. (more…)

Sexy Voice means Sexy Bod? Since When?

All of us who play online games know that the only way to get a point across fast, without your character becoming catatonic for 10 seconds while you type, is to use voice. Voice chat is ubiquitous with today’s online games, and for good reason. Whether it’s to encourage your team with pep talks involving castration, inform your enemies that this team, while exactly similar to yours, is somehow inferior (but not you of course), or just to say, “Hey, I’d like to abuse a reasonable system of communication by screaming incoherently,” we know it’s all for the better.
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FINAL FANTASY XIII COMING TO XBOX 360!!!

SAME DAY AS THE PS3 VERSION OH MY FUCKING GOD!

http://e3.gamespot.com/live.html

First Real-Time Screens of Star Ocean 4 The Last Hope

http://www.tri-ace.co.jp/product/index.html

Diablo III Gameplay Videos

Tales of Vesperia Version of Bonnie Pink’s “Ring a Bell”

Game Trailers had a whole crapload of HD gameplay videos for Tales of Vesperia up today. I watched them all. I cringed a little at the English voice acting, although it’s not THAT bad, I guess. (I’m still hoping for a Japanese language option…) Anyway, this music video is making more excited about the game than any of the gameplay I saw today. I’m guessing it’s because music videos have this way of taking the best parts of a game or movie and sticking them together in a way that sucks the viewer in. I’m sold. Not like you needed to twist my arm, anyway, though. It probably helps that I’m a J-Pop fiend, too. I keep up with the top 20 in Japan, but have NO CLUE what people are listening to in the US.

edit: updated video…previous one was no longer available