VGS Life (original) (raw)

I guess you could say I've been pretty busy lately. I guess you could also say I forgot about this place for a little while. Both would be facts. Despite these two conundrums, however, I still, unfortunately, work at this lovely videogame store. Yes. Still. Well, a student has to do something to survive, right?

I figure I'd add some spice back into this place and see how long I can keep up, now that I've got more free time. For any comments left that I never replied to: I apologize. But replying after a two year freakin' delay is pushing it, eh?

Anyway. Bear with me, here. It's been a while, but here goes nothing.

Now that a lot of anime has been dubbed faster, it's actually not so bad answering queries about anime, and business has been quick as to gashapon figures and the like. It's made my job a lot easier since I don't get a lot of, "excuse me, what's that (half-naked) lady there from?"

... Ahem. I also get less awkward moments where a little girl will point at the figures of Kakashi and Naruto; in which Kakashi is about to kancho Naruto. "Why is he about to poke the guy in the butt?" ... Sigh. Innocent little four-year-old girl, retain your innocence and just... settle with the Doraemon stuff, okay? Not that she'd probably know what Doraemon was in the year 2008, but I digress.

Today in particular had been a quiet day, and I was willing to socialize with any pleasant customer I could come upon. When an elderly woman came walking in, I thought that she might require my assistance. She was a frail looking old woman, but she had a stern face.

"Excuse me, can I help you with anything?"

Ah, me, being _ever_-polite. Such a trooper.

Current Mood: confused

Current Music: Armored Core 4A - Precious Park

21 August 2006 @ 10:03 pm

Helping create a website for the store is all work and no play. Really.

Things will be on track soon.

Current Mood: busy

Pointing to the Nintendogs game and asking me, "How much is that doggy in the window?" is not witty. Not. NOT. Not when you're at least 20+. You'll only get strange looks from me.

Plus - it isn't even in the damn window.

Current Mood: not amused

Current Music: Staind - Reply

Ahh. A breath of fresh air. Life. Yes. I swear I'm around. Not working as much as I used to, but around. But who cares about that? During the various times I've worked this month, I've had plenty of strange customers. Strange being, possibly, annoying or outrageous. Anyway.

It's been pretty damn cold lately, so I've been turning up at work a little later than usual. It's really hard to get out of bed on cold mornings, and my attitude is not the greatest when my phalanges (read: fingers) aren't working too well.

I rock up at work, positively negative and frowning a little. I'm opening the store today, and I'm already a little late for opening. Doesn't matter. I proceed with the usual opening routine; flipping switches, moving sale boxes out, rearranging some misplaced games, vaccuuming...

So the shop gets opened. The day proceeds excellently with smart customers or casual, friendly customers until about afternoon, in which my shift is almost over. I see a large lady and her son (or so I assume) walk into the store, looking around. I smile at them, but don't mind them too much. I'm busy sorting out some catalogues, dammit. After about 5 minutes or so, the lady approaches me. I smile.

"Hello. How much is your PS2 Sims 2 on sale?"

Oh damn. You couldn't find the game? Eh. That happens.

"Ah, I'll just have a quick look for you, ma'am."

I open up the stock database, quickly looking up "The Sims 2". Snap. The normal price is still on it - $84.95. I hazard a guess.

"It was 84.95,soonsaleit′sprobably84.95, so on sale it's probably 84.95,soonsaleit′sprobably59 or $69 now. Would you like me to find the game for you and make sure?"

Pleasesaynopleasesayno.

"Actually, I've got the box here, and it says $49."

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Current Mood: contemplative

Current Music: Trapt - Headstrong

Even though we haven't been on the scene long, let's take a quick break from the video-game store and focus on something new. Something special. Something that brings the world together -- The World Cup. Fifa 2006, Germany. Oh, yes.

Let's commemorate this special day -- yes, I picked tonight specifically -- by saying a prayer for the Socceroos; "Be the pwnzorz, Australia." I mean, tonight (or, well, Friday morning) is when Australia will beat Croatia (or so I hope). It's going to be special.

Let's see. Australia hasn't been on the scene in 32 years. 32.

I think, anyway. I should try and remember numbers more.

How amazing is that? Aside from that, though, Australia has not scored a goal in the World Cup, period. And then we scored 3 this year, all in under 10 minutes. Pwned, but good game, Japan. You just need more stamina.

Socceroos, I know you can beat Croatia. And yes, the Socceroos are indeed a real animal. Viduka, you can play well again. Kewell and Cahill, you can be the saviours of this team. Neill, Moore, Emerton? Be the pwnzorz.

But anyway. Let me throw something related to the video-game store in, just to get things back on track.

( Gangster, yo.Collapse )

Current Mood: excited

And so, this is it. VGS-Life is up and running

with a crappy layout and no user-pic. But hey, we're here for the writing, aren't we? Thought so.

You all ready? Yes - I'm talking to you, my invisible friends. Was that a "yeah"? Knew it.

Let's jump straight into the action.

Cold, blistering morning (I love setting a scene). I've just awoken from a night of watching watching Brazil VS Australia (which I am thoroughly upset about, considering Australia lost 2-0. Viduka played excellently and Kewell had many shots -- but now I'm rambling), and I'm not in the best of moods. I've had 5 hours of sleep, and I'm standing there at work, fingers too numb and lacking dexterity to play any video games, mind too fuzy to focus on any movies or anime. The trailer disk is just playing on repeat on the big screen. I can't even pay attention to what trailer's on; in my head, I'm reliving all those chances Kewell got at the Brazillian goals. At the open Brazillian goals. Damn you and your skills, Dida.

"Excuse me?"

I'm knocked out of my reverie -- presumably by a customer. I quickly put on my best early-morning smile and apologize for my lack of attention.

"Sorry about that. How can I help you?"

My bleary eyes finally focus on the customer I'm talking to. I usually don't judge by appearances (hah!), but this morning, I'm cranky. The fact that this lady is a little big (weight is not an issue with me. If you're nice, you're nice) and cranky-looking is a little off-putting as well. Hey, maybe she's just upset about the Socceroos, too.

"Got Blood Money?"

Got manners?

"Of course. What platform, ma'am?"
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Current Mood: amused

Current Music: Guilty Gear - Vortex Infinitum (Robo-Ky's Theme)

"How can I help you?" That's a line you hear everyday from a shop assistant, and it's meaning kinda' wears off on you after a while, doesn't it? Sometimes, you just don't even answer, shake your head or just keep walking and looking for the object of your desire. I can tell you this; while I don't mind saying those words, I am so sick of hearing them come outta' my mouth.

If you couldn't tell already, I'm a shop-assistant. Counter-person. Slave. Retailer. Whatever you want to call me. I work at a video-game store.

I know that when I was growing up, working at a video-game store was on my top priority list. Not that I had a top priority list when I was 4, but, working at a video-game store was much desired. My friends wanted to work at a video-game store, too. Oh, how exciting it would be -- keeping track of all the new games, getting to test-play new titles, demo discs, free consoles & games. The prospect of working at a video-game store was amazing, and it was one of those things I had hoped to achieve at least once in my life. Sad, huh? 'Cause working at a video-game store isn't like what I had imagined; it wasn't all it was hyped up to be back then. I learned the hard truth and cold reality of it all by myself.

When I put in an application to work at a video-game store, I was immediately accepted. Why? Well, considering the shop was just opening down at the newly renovated ex-crappy shopping centre, it had slim chances of getting heard of fast. I guess you could say I've been part of this shop since it's opened -- cool, huh? When I got work there, I was really excited. I mean, this work place was cool. It had this huge screen that the manager would play DVDs and video games on, and the manager was totally laid-back. He let me use instant messaging services at work, let me play video games when the place was really empty, surf the internet. This was really my dream job... for the first few months, anyway.

My dream job's ethereal, heavenly allure was destroyed when I encountered customers. Well, customers would be putting it too broadly. I mean, I love customers. I'm talking about customers that really take up time with a retailer. Customers that make other people wait in line for minutes on end (precious minutes), asking stupid questions or trying to make weird deals. Really shitty, pain-in-the-ass customers.

Here. I'll tell you all about it.

Stick with me, now.