h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yeh, I know it's *supposed* to be an easy job...but considering Ikea won't even hire me......I do wonder...

It's the Pink Planet/Games Exchange chain store...which may or may not mean anything to you all...

I though Ikea cloned all of their employees. *off topic* Did you get the *don't feel sorry for the old lamp* advert?

I wouldn't be surprised if Ikea employees were all clones. They would be high quality, mass produced clones sold at cheaper prices than most other distributors of similar products.

I'm not sure. Can't remember.

I was relieved when they didn't hire me. Their stores are creepy. Reheated food. Nothing is different or individual...isn't it *great*?...that's the lines they were trying to feed to me. I think I scared them...probably afraid I wanted their job...

Anyway...

Ours isn't bad, we were the pilot city in North America so the (now) two stores are a bit of a flagship thing. Food is good, from a kitchen (if you like reindeer meatballs and herring)

What is the name of the shop you are going to? A big chain store? (What we call Big Boxes)

Ummm, Sat... A few hints and pointers to help you in your interview...

'X-box is Microsoft release. Only decent game out on that is Halo/Halo 2 (which is out sometime soon)'

There are many critically aclaimed games on the x-box, such as Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, and PC corssovers like Morrowind and Unreal Tournament

'PS2 is the upgrade of the PS-one. Originally from Sony, who sold off the rights (I think) and now make games for both the playstation and Nintendo - which is why Sonic the Hedgehog is now available on the Gameboy Advance. Sony also produced...um...the handheld thingymebob and the Megadrive. Noteable releases on the Megadrive included Megabomberman, and on the playstation, GTA and Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy.'

Sony didnt sell any rights... They still make the playstation. You are getting mixed up with Sega here me love, they are the ones that made sonic, the Game Gear (handheld thingymebob) , the Megadrive and the Master System, and the Sega Saturn which crashed and burnt. PS2 games of note are Vice City, which has broken all sales records, The ultra-realistic The Getaway, which features 20-odd square miles of London accurately mapped from photographs(if you live in this area, you can see your house in the game...), Tony Hawks skateboarding... (they're on the fourth one now.)

'PC's. Main market is strategy and SIM style games. Also Doom/Quake, and others with internet link ups for MP Gaming. And that's all I know. Because it's PC's and that extends into all sorts of things like soundcards, and memory and technology.'

The main use of PC's is actually First Person Shooter, and Doom and Quake are *really* old news now, many play them online and many just play them stand-alone. There is a big market for strategy, something that never really got started on the console...

Ummm, theres some hints, I really recommend going down town and having a look at the charts for Playstation/X-box/Gamecube and reading those game boxes. Ifyou know the top-ten games for each platform,and actually know about these games the job will be yours...

It's Pink Planet Games Exchange. Sort of a small chain store. Good shop though.

I hate to break it to you cl...but from that interview, I know damn well that every single IKEA store in the world serves the same food...none of it is fresh, it is just re-heated food. They discourage creativity and individuality...and I believe all stores are laid out the same. Or one of three basic plans. There is nothing unique about an Ikea store...

That's how they're able to sell stuff for cheap. Since everything is exactly the same, they can very effectively capitalize on economics of scale.

Now, you could have done that a while back. I disagree about the X-box, but there you go. The rest is invaluable, which is what I needed to know. I did know most of it. *bangs hand against forehead* Sega/Sony I know what I meant... Really should update my knowledge once more. Back to browsing the shops again...

But I'm allowed to be vague. I'm a girl.

Word has it (rumours from MSHQ, a few dozen miles south of here) that the X box is suffering big time and may not survive. They are near a point where only the games themselves make money now, not the machine. Loss leader.

Disagree about the X-box all you like, you dont play one.

Any questions your unclear on just ask.

X-box isnt doing very well at all. Both it and the PS2 were released at £300 over here. The PS2 took 18 months to drop to £200. The X-box took 6 weeks, and although the technology is older and lower spec, new X-boxes are cheaper than new PS2's, I could have bought an X-box cheaper when I got my PS2, but I didnt. Two reasons, 1. I didnt want to have to buy a DVD kit at £30 to use it to watch DVDs, and 2. GTA Vice City,

Another good fact. Sony negotiated to keep GTA games on the PS2 from GTA3 on. Which is a massive coup as they are the best selling games of all time...

And there's a reason why I don't want an X-box! Just cause I don't have any of the new machines, doesn't mean to say I don't know anything about them. X-box is s**t! Microsoft really didn't think it through. I mean, wasn't the Star Wars game one of the launch-games? I mean, . No one I know has bothered with it. Everyone went straight for GTA3/Vice City...

Will ask. Have done. It's just a case of updating present knowledge. Have been a bit slack in my keeping up with gaming. I got lost in the new-machines thing...

Its not Microsofts fault.

The X-box is technically, graphically, and theoretically better. The graphics win hands down, they are amazing, and much better than the PS2 and it comes with a hard drive (an upgrade sony havent even release yet).

However, nobody can beat the might of the playstation. The Dreamcast, N64 and Sega Saturn were all technically better than the PS1, but it was the market leader. Sony get all the best games and that is why...

exactly s to all

Exactly - Microsoft didn't put in the effort on the game side of things. Graphics and technical superiority is one thing, but it's the games that people want.

I leave Nintendo out of things like this. They are a classic brand, they make great games, and most of which are more family orientated. It's not like they don't do well, and they are always my brand of choice...but I would never put them up against Sony, whose games are more marketed at the adult audience - ie : the one's who have been playing all their lives. Even I'm moving onto more Playstation stuff now...although, I am eyeing up the Gamecube due to the forthcoming Legend of Zelda release...

ah but have you seen the pics of it?

I agree, it's entirely marketing. The competition has lots of room to move on the price since they have established manufacturing and future designs in the pipe. MS only has cash, which it is spending hand over fist on this one.

btw, I should buy PS2s and sell them to you lot. They are one half to two thirds that price here.

Um, Sat, Microsoft dont make the games, the software companies do...

The New Legend of Zelda release? YES! Although I really should finish the N64 one. Or maybe the SNES one first...