Ok, so I gave it a chance. The controls totally ruined this game. I was passed that the game was on a circular track and the gimmicky saving dinos and crap, but when it comes to where I can’t even accomplish my silly goals, I get frustrated. I loved the graphics and I kept coming back to play, rediscovering my hatred for this unplayable game. So I had the receipt, but this is now around 2 months from when I bought the game. Super Paper Mario just came out, so I wanted to find a way to even exchange Sonic for the much more successful Mario.

It took a few attempts, but with the right attitude and luck, this will work. It took me 4 visits to Gamestops all over my area, but there is one about every 6 blocks in my neighborhood, so this wasn’t an issue. My goal was to get a new, unopened copy of Sonic with a receipt with a new date on it so I can trade it in for Super Paper Mario.

I first tried to get an employee to feel my Sonic pain of how bad it was and trade. No go. He offered me 22 bucks for it.

I then tried another location and told him my mother bought it for my family for Easter and when we opened it, the game didn’t work on either of our Wiis. It was late at night and his friends were hanging out in the store waiting for him to get off. I assume he didn’t want to look like a Gamestop ass and he did it for me. The only problem is that he opened in for me. He said it was policy so that I couldn’t return in for a different game. Ok, so that ruined my plan. The receipt was new and did have a new date on it. It also said “reason returned:defective.”

Next day, I went to a new GS and took advantage of their receipt. I told him this was the second time I had to return a defective Sonic game and I wanted to give up on this one and try for Paper Mario. He sounded like he was willing to help and asked his manager who was smoking outside. He came back saying “no go” and that I could get another copy of Sonic, opening by him of course. I told him no and walked out pissed off.

I thought I lost all hope when I remember a story about some guy getting a used 360 w/XBOX Live data on it despite buying a “new” one. Then it dawned on me! I decided to write in the back of the book in crayon random info about the game. Usually gaming manuals have note sections that nobody uses, but Sonic didn’t, but I made my own up. Then I wrote where there were hidden stuff and which level “blah blah, etc.” was in.

Next day, I go to a new Gamestop and it was crowded. I told him so everyone could hear, “I opened this new copy of Sonic and for some odd reason there is writing on it. I also read multiple stories of your company repackaging used games and selling for new.” I also mentioned the XBOX story. They knew EXACTLY what I was talking about, but played dumb. “I don’t know how that could have happened!” They were in my hands now.

I told him I didn’t want this game and that I wanted Super Paper Mario. He said no problem, rung it up and handed it over. Muhaha. The day was mine.

So I got my way, but I really did have a repacking issue the X-Mas that Metal Gear Solid 2 for PS2 came out. I opened my
“new” game and found crusty instructions. My dad took it back and they apologized and game us a $20 gift card.

So if GS and EB are trying to eff us over, then use this to eff their policies over. Every employee will know how it happened and give up whatever you want within reason.

So today I am playing Super Paper Mario, happy as can be. There is a mansion in Chapter 2-3 that makes repay 1,000,000 rubees for breaking a vase by doing chores. Well in one of the rooms, there is a gerbil treadmill. If you hold right or left, you run in the treadmill and make electricity to get paid. Well I don’t want to stand there and hold it for a long time because after 20 min I only got 18,000 rubees. I placed a dumbbell perfectly on the right button on the D-Pad to keep it going FOREVER! The Wiimote will time out after a while to save batteries, but you can press any button without moving the dumbbell to revive it. You do not need to get all 1,000,000 because there are more to get rubees, but I won’t spoil it for you. Pic below.

The Wii is the perfect example. While 360 and PS3 are following the same linear path as each other and battling to see how can do online gaming and HD graphics, Nintendo swoops in with a new idea and sans-HD. Nintendo has given us a new gaming experience which is great. I am not saying the other two systems are poor. XBOX does great at what it does, but Nintendo will be the leader this gen. I do a lot of Sony bashing as well. I haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, but they are my real feelings. I think I am so mad at Sony right now is because I always said PS2 was the best system during that gen. I supported it when it had the worst graphics between that and Cube and XBOX. Its specialty was its enourmous library of games. Now they abandon its followers with a heavy price tag and cocky attitude towards gamers. They just don’t seem to care about what we want. Sony just wants to push heir Blu-Ray technology as they did with their failed UMD.

Well to start off, my name’s Dave. I am probably one of the most insane people anyone will ever meet. My brain is so fantastical that most people have no idea what I am talking. I have many sides to me. I have been known to be a fun person to hang out with, but that only happens if we have the type of chemistry that lets me be myself. I am terrible with expressing my feelings unless someone asks except lately someone special has been able to semi-cure that. I can be the nicest person in the world, but that goes for the same for mean. Treat me good and you’ll be treated like a god(dess.)

I go to school for Interactive Media Design in Schaumburg, Illinois which basically means I’m getting into some advertising, web design, or basic movie production. I’m excited to see where my life is going to go and how it is changed so much from last year. I believe everything happens for a reason and if you look at it that way, everything will be ok.

I am obsessed with gaming. My main obsessions come from Guitar Hero and anything that Nintendo makes. No matter what anyone says, Nintendo will always be the leader in the gaming industry. Maybe not by sales or pie charts, but in fun. Raw gaming at its best, minus all the extra price-increasing technology. Sure HD is great, but is it even neccesary today?  I’ve decided I will ramble WAY too much on gaming, so I will save it for next post.

I work at Nordstrom inside Woodfield. I don’t work inside the store, but outside where the little coffee shop is. You have probably never heard of it before; it’s kinda hidden. So far I don’t mind it and I have really gotten to appreciate coffee. Anyhoo, I’m off to write the second post with my rambles of gaming. I just want my opninois to be heard!