Anyone worked in a games shop

[eastyy]

curious about what observations they make in general on people who buy games i was in a game shop (buying stuff) and i observed this

mom can i buy this game
no its got a 18 certificate...... i shall buy it for you instead

[Ratso]

I haven't worked in a games shop myself, but yes, that exact scenario has been related on here countless times by people from GAME, GameStation etc.

Would these parents do the same with a DVD? I doubt it.

[brokeback]

I've worked in 3 game shops (game, another world and console concepts) I will be more than happy to tell you my feelings about the worthless, no-brained pond life that accounts for the majority of the game buying public.

[Ratso]

Mind you, I saw some kid in one of our local GAME stores recently asking for 'that old Star Wars game that's like Command & Conquer'.

The helpful staff gave him BattleFront...

[in5ane]

And I would be happy to tell you about the worthless, no-brained pond life that accounts for the majority of the staff at Game

[PeteBrant]

Would these parents do the same with a DVD? I doubt it.

Depends on the DVD, or indeed the game.

Obviously there are plenty of parents that are ill-informed as to what the content is - In which case, the BBFC rating is there to guide them. However, there are plenty of parents that are informed, and make a decision based on the maturity of thier particular child.

Certainly there are many 18 rated films/games that I would have no problem at all with my 14 year old watching/playing.

[Ratso]

Oh yes and I was in GameStation - where they are normally all right I have to say - recently asking if something (can't remember what now) on the PS2 had a 60Hz mode.

The friendly young feller said that no PAL PS2 games had included 60Hz options yet. I would have failed in my duties as a hardcore geek NOT to reel off a list of those which had...

[brokeback]

And I would be happy to tell you about the worthless, no-brained pond life that accounts for the majority of the staff at Game

Agreed!

although the majority of people at my place were pretty clever and clued up.

[Ratso]

Depends on the DVD, or indeed the game.

Obviously there are plenty of parents that are ill-informed as to what the content is - In which case, the BBFC rating is there to guide them. However, there are plenty of parents that are informed, and make a decision based on the maturity of thier particular child.

Certainly there are many 18 rated films/games that I would have no problem at all with my 14 year old watching/playing.

Yeah, and that's fair enough. But you can be sure that in a lot of cases it's people just thinking that it's harmless, it's only a game.

Mind you, rather that than the general public believing that ALL videogames turn their littl'uns into murderous monsters I suppose.

[eastyy]

I remember years ago there were these kids looking at a game and saying that looks pretty good it was the fantastic 4 game for the psone and the shop person said to them you have made a good choice
probably because he knew that there was little chance of getting rid of the game

[Rep]

How many times do you get asked this little gem.

"Why are you still selling Gamecubes they dont make them anymore?"

[Ratso]

I think I'd find it painful to work in a games shop - people bringing back amazing stuff saying it was 'cr@p' and taking something rubbish instead would drive me berzerk.

I appreciate that it's all subjective and to think that my taste is 'better' is arrogant.

[brokeback]

I remember years ago there were these kids looking at a game and saying that looks pretty good it was the fantastic 4 game for the psone and the shop person said to them you have made a good choice
probably because he knew that there was little chance of getting rid of the game

My habit of speaking my mind and telling the truth was ultimately my downfall whilst working at game. or maybe it was my 'gross misconduct'... who knows. But I got countless warnings for not plugging the latest, ****ty game.

I know it's part of the job but it just doesn't sit well with me when you have to try and sell some really **** game to a little kid who's been saving his pocket money for the past year. When I was a kid, I used to ask the staff at the shop what games they reccomended and they'd always point me in the direction of something good.

If you keep selling **** games to people then they will lose faith in games and just not bother with them. once scolded and all that.

I think I'm just too noble for my own good some times.

[PeteBrant]

To be fair, the Staff at GAME are put under a lot of pressure to sell. A staff member told me the other day that he had to make sure 75% of his sales were under a loyalty card, or he would get a written warning, or some such punishment - Ultimatly resulting in the sack. He said if someone came in and bought a console and he didn't get them to sign up for a loyalty card at the same time, he would be in real trouble.

Whether this is useless anecdotal evidence, or typical of all staff across GAME i don;t know, if it is typical, then they have my sympathies - It makes customer care almost impossible, how can you advise someone not to buy something when your job is on the line?

[eastyy]

i always had a feeling you could go into a game shop and with the rarest games ever and they would probably still only offer ?5 each
i remember a place in norwich they had a stack of second hand games (pretty good nick) but my one big regret is they had several copys of primal rage for the 32x i had not idea they would be worth so much now

in my opinion my fav shops were the little independant ones. In my old town there was a guy who bought and sold games (and warhammer merchandise)
and the little game import shops. The people i knew started them because of there love for games and they would tell you what they think. GAME and other companies i just get a feeling when i walk into there shops were is the love

actually what got me thinking about this topic was when i went into pc world to get a motherboard to repair a computer a person came to "assist me" and he had NO idea i saw the motherboard i wanted i said is this for a pentium 3 ? and basically he had no idea after looking at the box i was telling him what type and model it was and for which processor