Bitch about your job here

[The exploding boy]

Originally Posted by noyen

i don't believe your bit about being asked to playtest games and get paid for it. in all of my 13 something years of making video games, never once has anyone ever been given any money. on AAA titles. this includes microsoft, ea, activision, take2, ubisoft and acclaim (and dozens more). free pizza and soda, yes. free video games highly likely. i call bullshit.

I just saw this because i'd skipped the first page entirely because i actually forgot i even made that post....and believe it. I receive a mail for playtests about once every three weeks (not that i do most of them, for one they question you on what you played and all and if you don't fit the profile theyre looking for..its so specific too...did you play x game and how far did you get and all that) and they either pay you money OR you pick the same value in games (and yeah they always seem to push for that over the check...). the check takes like two weeks to get to you but i never pick games. Of course a 200$ playtest is long. Like 3 or 4 days of 5 or 6 hours. The most paying one i did was actually 160. Played Assassin's Creed: Revelations for 3 days of about 6 hours. Its not well paid for the hours. On the other hand all you do is play. I gues youre right though, its not money as in "cold hard cash". It's a check.

And as for having to listen to me like trots mentioned...well... you fill questionaires more often than not but they do ask you some questions. The AC one i was the only one left at the end cause apparently i sucked more than the 5 other guys and finished the content like an hour later. Anyway the guy supervising me i guess because he had nothing left to do seemed interested in my more in depths opinions and i shared with him why i thought the AC games were alright but not great (i actually remember replaying a sequence over and over on that one and swearing under my breath and he moved forward and went "you're allowed to think this is "fucking retarded" but i'd like you to explain to me why"). He actually thought maybe i reviewed games for a living... I wish. (though no one would hire me they'd be like fuck, you have to like something sometimes you know)

Seriously none of the people i ever did this with care about sharing their opinions with the devs which i think kinda sucks. Of course i'm aware that whatever i may tell them they wont' really give a shit about. I remember on Revelations I did tell them this sequence where you have to like defend fortifications from attacks with canons and shit was boring and sure enough when the reviews came out, nobody liked that bit. It seems to me by the time playtests are done games are too far along to really make any significant changes.

I've also done EA cell phone games playtests, ALSO paid with money but in the form of prepaid credit cards.

[Elphenor]

You're a trippy dude

[Elphenor]

Do you actually make enough money to live through just doing random shit?

[The exploding boy]

yes though the biggest amount DOES come from medical trials (i make between 6 to 8000$ a year with those, which at 6000$ about covers my yearly rent). And live on is barely. I'm good with money. I have to be. I don't go hungry (though i dont eat that well because of budget) and i pay for tv internet and phone but i had to take a special payment agreement for people with low income with the electricity provider because i was indebted to them like crazy and they were threatening to cut power. I also have a supremely cheap rent for the area i live in. I lucked out on that one. There is no extra though. I survive.

[Elphenor]

Crazy

[absof]

I had to put 800 letters through a folding machine today and the machine didn't even seal the envelopes..

[Cool As Ice Cream]

Originally Posted by slunken

Whats the proper protocol?

"no, i don't have my card with me."

the truth is that you don't have a card, but you can't say that, because then they start asking if you'd be interested in a loyalty card.

[Cool As Ice Cream]

i've done that as well. it makes them act all uncomfortable for some reason. also, it's a longer explanation than the lie. and the lie also saves them the trouble of the sign up talk.

i just find it's the easiest way to get past it. just say you don't have your card with you. and then they're sometimes like "oh, i'll put your points on the ticket and then you can add them later" and then i'm like "that's perfect, thanks" or "yeah whatever grmbl", but then that's it.

with their stupid points. who does that anyway?

[The exploding boy]

YOU NEED YOUR POINTS, YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR POINTS, SIR, SIR YOUR POINTS!


Most of them are probably on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

[Cool As Ice Cream]

nah, they're way too slow for that. if anyone is close to a nervous breakdown, it's the customers who are in a hurry. no offence.

[The exploding boy]

I never have reason to hurry but i kinda do. I just get pissed at people who are abnormally slow. I usually have nowhere to be but i still don't like to spend what time i have in a day waiting in line more than i have to.

[Cool As Ice Cream]

to pick the fastest line, you have to add up the ages of the people in the line. it works way better than simply counting the number of people.

[slunken]

I don't care about the points I just want the cheaper price

[Trotskilicious]

i remember when randalls started doing the points thing late 99 and then it was everywhere

[null123]

Originally Posted by slunken

Another thing im unsure of is regarding loyalty cards. The cashier always asks for that first and wont ring in any items until ive presented it/scanned it.

Should i empty my basket/cart first or give them the card first? Either way we are going to be waiting. If i have a cart, it doesnt make sense to push it through, present the card, pull it back, then unload.

I feel awkward when im unloading groceries onto the belt and the cashier, ten feet away, is asking for my card. Im like yes i have it please allow me to unload my groceries first. Then they arewaiting for me to do that. It feels like im being rushed or doing things out of order.

At Safeway/Vons they have you scan the card yourself and you can do it at any point in the transaction. I can't believe this other way exists

I'm kind of a jackass because I genuinely enjoy using the card and watching the total price go down after the fact

[The exploding boy]

Originally Posted by Cool As Ice Cream

to pick the fastest line, you have to add up the ages of the people in the line. it works way better than simply counting the number of people.

doesn't apply if you go shopping at 11pm though. There's a 24 hours grocery store near and if you go past 11pm or 12am you can only base it on how inebriated the people in either line look.

[mxzombie]

i don't see the need to strategize so that you can reject an offer for a discount card. how many of those cashiers do you think give a shit if you say no? i just say "not today" and they continue the transaction.

source: i turn to melted butter when strangers talk to me

[null123]

When I'm asked if I have such-and-such card I always say "no but that's ok"

[slunken]

at Kroger it's essential to have a loyalty card. They just want to track buying habits so the prices without a card are insane compared to with one.

[Sonic Johnny]

I work 4 days a week, get paid real good, my supervisor is one of my good friends, all te people I work with are lovely and I get breakfast, lunch, and all the coffee I can handle every day I'm there.

So yeah, worst job.

[yo soy el mejor]

Originally Posted by Cool As Ice Cream

nah, they're way too slow for that. if anyone is close to a nervous breakdown, it's the customers who are in a hurry. no offence.

maan, seriously.

[yo soy el mejor]

Originally Posted by mxzombie

i don't see the need to strategize so that you can reject an offer for a discount card. how many of those cashiers do you think give a shit if you say no? i just say "not today" and they continue the transaction.

source: i turn to melted butter when strangers talk to me

this is what i say everywhere but walgreens, but you knew that.

[yo soy el mejor]

Originally Posted by Charmbag

I'm kind of a jackass because I genuinely enjoy using the card and watching the total price go down after the fact

call me partyboy

[Cool As Ice Cream]

Originally Posted by The exploding boy

doesn't apply if you go shopping at 11pm though.

yeah, that doesn't exist here in belgium. shops close at 6, supermarkets between 7 and 9 pm.

[Cool As Ice Cream]

Originally Posted by Charmbag

When I'm asked if I have such-and-such card I always say "no but that's ok"

that sounds all right. i should look for an equivalent in dutch.

[MyOneAndOnly]

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...gzxzgyahx4.gif

[Trotskilicious]

"I speak English, like Americans do."

[killtrocity]

My job is awesome. I don't have to talk to dumbass customers and make my own hours.

[Bread Regal]

What's your job again killtrocity

[MyOneAndOnly]

I found a job for TOC. It's a gig with the Council on Foreign Relations!


http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistin...7873&c=mbeajob