I used to be a good customer, then I took an arrow to the knee...

[fireheart]

This is my sixth holiday season working at a games store and it's funny to me that inevitably I deal with the same stupid stuff over and over, year after year...

The dumb questions

1) Do you sell Leappad/Leapfrog?

2) Do you sell Laptops?

3) Can you tell me if there are any non-violent shooting games?

4) Do you have Super Mario on 360?

5) Will 3DS games work in a regular DS?

From that list because I've numbered them.

1) There's a difference between "shiny educational TOY that says words out loud when you touch pen to them" and "shiny non-educational handheld console that does not say words out loud-or if it does, they aren't always good ones"

2) I really love the logic there. Game store =/= electronics store. I know that some electronics store sell games (the two local ones here do) but it's not always going to be the other way around!

3) One word: Rez. Mild violence to some degree, but there's no blood. In fact, the whole game looks very TRON-esque and involves your character shooting targets to create sounds. The only "killing" you have to do is destroying a ball of light at the end of each level. Only caveat is that it was released for the PS2. It is also very hard to find. (Just like Dark Cloud!)

4) Enough said.

5) This one DOES have some credit, as DS games can work in a 3DS, although they don't play in 3D. It doesn't work the other way around though and in fact, they've added a little "chip" onto the corner to stop people from sticking their 3DS cards into a normal DS.

Still, yikes, I swear that around Christmas time, people get dumber.

[EricKei]

Actually, the 3DS question isn't THAT bad. Asking if a Wii game will work on a Gamecube, however, might be pushing it...^_^

[Seshat]

Much love for the thread title.

[EmilyRose1982]

Awesome Skyrim reference!

My brother used to work at a game store (old incarnation of a current one). He was forever plagued by mothers who didn't know what game systems their kids used, what type of games they liked, etc. Then they would get mad that my brother didn't have this magic knowledge either. Parents should be banned from electronics stores, forever.

[Mishi]

It is also very hard to find. (Just like Dark Cloud!)

I have that!! I think I looked in every secondhand store I saw for about 2 or so years, but I finally found a copy of Dark Cloud just after the PS3 came out because everyone was trading in their old games. Somehow it's ended up scratched recently, thanks for reminding me to take it out tonight to be repaired. Jazzy loves watching me play it and it's sticking on a black screen everytime I try to enter the Moon Factory.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Can you tell me if there are any non-violent shooting games?

There are a number of shooters based on nerf or paintball. Either of which could be considered non-violent shooters since you shoot a nerg tosser or a paintball marker and tag someone. There is no blood, just a nerf ball or dart hitting a target or a splatter of paint.

The bad news is she got a $10 one instead.

We had a case where we made a mistake on a order. We installed it with a DVD player and not a DVD RW that she wanted. We only charged her for the DVD player. So we threw in a DVD-RW on top of the DVD Rom at no additional cost to make amends for the error.

Back in the day, that was a $125 dollar DVD-RW on top of a $75 DVD-Rom. She still claimed we screwed her, refused to take her money back -or- take the upgraded computer, and called the Better Business Bureau on us.

When the BBB saw what we offered and was shown the security camera footage (best thing we EVER installed) sided with us and told us to simply cut her a check to refund her her money and closed the case.

We turned around and sold the PC to another customer a day later who wanted that configuration WITH both a DVD and a DVD-RW for making copies and was thrilled to have same day service on a "custom" system.

[RealUnimportant]

There are a number of shooters based on nerf or paintball.

Thanks for reminding me! We recently re-obtained a Wii (had it, got bored, sold it, missed it...) & I need to get the Nerf game with gun holster for the Wiimote... Which also comes with a custom Nerf gun!

[fireheart]

I have that!! I think I looked in every secondhand store I saw for about 2 or so years, but I finally found a copy of Dark Cloud just after the PS3 came out because everyone was trading in their old games. Somehow it's ended up scratched recently, thanks for reminding me to take it out tonight to be repaired. Jazzy loves watching me play it and it's sticking on a black screen everytime I try to enter the Moon Factory.

I HAD a copy-couldn't get past the Dark Genie .

Mishi, check your local Gametraders-they'll repair discs for a small fee.

[jedimaster91]

Parents should be banned from electronics stores, forever.

Sometimes I think non-gamers in general should be banned unless accompanied by someone with at least a basic gaming knowledge, but I digress. I'm fairly new to gaming myself, but I at least know what game goes with which system and I know which systems I own.

And this may seem like a dumb question, but since the PS3 is not backwards compatible, I think I'm justified in asking: a 3DS will play regular DS games, right? I'm planning a 3DS purchase for my birthday (Kingdom Hearts 3D. WOO!) and there are some regular DS games I'd like to get as well.

[Lovecats]

Sometimes I think non-gamers in general should be banned unless accompanied by someone with at least a basic gaming knowledge, but I digress. I'm fairly new to gaming myself, but I at least know what game goes with which system and I know which systems I own.

And this may seem like a dumb question, but since the PS3 is not backwards compatible, I think I'm justified in asking: a 3DS will play regular DS games, right? I'm planning a 3DS purchase for my birthday (Kingdom Hearts 3D. WOO!) and there are some regular DS games I'd like to get as well.

Being a non-gamer, I don't go into those kind of places normally. When I do it's to get something for my grandson and my daughter tells me what kind of system he uses and the specific game. If I don't know I either don't go in or I make a point of asking her first. I think it's above ignorant to go into a store and expect the cashiers, etc to be mindreaders.

[Kheldarson]

And this may seem like a dumb question, but since the PS3 is not backwards compatible, I think I'm justified in asking: a 3DS will play regular DS games, right? I'm planning a 3DS purchase for my birthday (Kingdom Hearts 3D. WOO!) and there are some regular DS games I'd like to get as well.

Yes. The 3DS will play regular DS games. It's backwards compatible. Problem is a lot of people are asking if the reverse is true...

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

This is always the time of year when we get parents/grandparents/wives, etc. of gamers who don't know much about games coming to buy Christmas gifts.

Most people are decent enough and are happy to have me walk them through it, others are determined to get what they want, no matter what.

Like the guy who wanted to get his 3 year-old a DS. I think a child that young is a bit too young to get much enjoyment out of a DS. I explained to him multiple times that he'd be better off with a Gameboy Advance or a Leapster type thing, but he wouldn't have it.

And I just know he'd be the first in line on Dec. 26th to return a DS because his toddler "couldn't figure it out"

[Pagan]

While digestible, are not safe in unlimited doses! Just fyi.

I know that. NaCl isn't good in unlimited doses, either. I was just pointing out that there are other digestible salts besides those formed with sodium.

[Moosenogger]

Death to gift cards - 2011 edition

Ok Mr. SC, let me answer your questions one at a time:

1) No, I don't know why your Visa gift card doesn't have as much on it as you think it does.
2) No I won't call the number to find out for you.
3) No I won't give you a discount to make up the difference
4) I don't know if you can sue Visa over it, I'm not a lawyer
5) Why are you threatening to never shop here again? Although I certainly wouldn't mind if you followed through, we had absolutely nothing to do with this.

The only thing I hate about the Visa gift cards is that, for whatever reason, we:

1. Can't scan the card and see how much is left on it.
2. Can't swipe the card and have whatever is left automatically taken from the total.

I don't understand why Visa doesn't make either of those options possible. Why can't I just swipe the damn gift card, Visa? WHY? Why is it so damn important that I know the EXACT AMOUNT on the card? You cause me so much grief.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

The only thing I hate about the Visa gift cards is that, for whatever reason, we:

1. Can't scan the card and see how much is left on it.
2. Can't swipe the card and have whatever is left automatically taken from the total.

I don't understand why Visa doesn't make either of those options possible. Why can't I just swipe the damn gift card, Visa? WHY? Why is it so damn important that I know the EXACT AMOUNT on the card? You cause me so much grief.

Also, I do believe I read here that every time those cards are swiped, as to find out how much moolah is really on them, a fee is charged to the merchant.

Whoever invented those things needs to be taken out to the back forty and shot.