Fat Ninja

Yesterday was a day like any other, though I spent it getting some extra hours in at the office ( I normally have Fridays off). I was looking forward to a nice, quiet evening at home with Laura and the kids; followed by a few hours of World of Warcraft (WoW), and then to bed to prepare for the putting in of some more extra hours today.

Now, it’s been my experience that the moment you stop wanting something, that something usually ends up finding you. Take my job with Yahoo!; I had desperately wanted to work here when I had heard they were opening a facility. I submitted multiple résumés online, I even had some handed in by a friend who was already working there. But I heard nothing. Meanwhile, another friend “got the call” and had his interview. For almost a week I put myself through the emotional wringer, asking the heavens why I hadn’t received “the call”. And then, one day, I just stopped worrying about it. I figured there was a reason I hadn’t gotten the call, and there was no sense giving myself an ulcer. That was the day I got “the call” and found my way to the best job I’ve ever had (And still have).

But let’s get back on track. Yesterday was a day like any other. I had settled into a state of equilibrium with my apparent inability to come into possession of an Xbox 360. I now understood that it simply was not meant to be at this particular juncture in my life, and I was comfortable in this knowledge. Besides, I had renewed my WoW account just nights before and I was looking forward to prospect of cresting the 50 mark.

That’s when Laura called me at the office saying, “I’ve got some good news!” It turns out that our friend and former neighbor, who also works for a local retailer, had an Xbox 360 Premium pack with my name on it (And no, Cleric, they did not want one of my kidneys in exchange). The catch? The retailer was only selling them in bundles, meaning I would have to purchase four games as well. I was distressed. Laura had issues with me spending the money needed to get the console itself, let alone four games to go with it. But Laura said, “Let me think…” and used that rare and mysterious ability of hers to balance our budget, and made it work (For the record: I have the best wife. Ever.).

So as soon as my shift was over I made like Fred Flinstone and blasted my way across town. After a gruelling battle with Christmas traffic, I made it there and expertly wove my way through the endless sea of shoppers therein. When they brought it out of the back room, other shoppers in the vicinity immediately gravitated towards it, asking, “Do you have anymore?” Unfortunately, it was the last one in stock. The whole thing felt almost predatory.

Then the manager came out and said that I had to also buy another $50 wireless controller with the bundle, however this attempt to squeeze more money from me was thwarted by several employees pointing out the sign displaying the bundle as being the console and four games, with no mention of this wireless controller. He was none too pleased by this mutiny by his subordinates, but I nonetheless had my way.

I did not, however, have my way in terms of games. They had but one game that I truly wanted. That’s right; no Call of Duty 2 and no King Kong, but I was in no position to complain. Besides, it’s nothing a gift receipt won’t fix.
Now let me say that I’ve never been as nervous walking through a parking lot as I was while carrying that thing, but I’ve heard things about how frenzied this shortage has made some people. Thankfully, no ill befell me and I made it home unscathed.

Oh? You want some impressions? Well let me just say this: I had an awesome time! Graphically, I was astonished with Perfect Dark. Even Laura, who was skeptical about the graphical advancements being leaps-and-boundsish enough ahead of the Xbox to make the purchase necessary, was impressed. That’s quite the endorsment, let me tell you.

Then it came time to migrate the ol’ Xbox Live account, which was quite simple really. This is all I have to say about the new face of Xbox Live.  I found my buddy Fernando online, so I set up a chat with him. He explained the Microsoft Points system, so I quickly spent $6.25 on 500 points and downloaded the Penny Arcade Ultraskin theme and one of the sets of Gamer Pictures they had.

In the end, I spent about an hour catching up with Fernando, all while playing Perfect Dark’s solo campaign, or walking around the apartment. The wireless controller is just mind-boggling. So, I have some repenting to do here. All that grief about the shortage and PS3’s…I’m sorry Microsoft. You forgive me, right?

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