Maybe I'll Have a Voice This Time

So last Friday, I was looking through my email when I spy a message from the Playstation Network. Usually I just give these a cursory glance and then move to the next unread message, but the subject line intrigued me.

L.A. gamers: join us for a focus group

OK, let's have a look-see at what it says.

Sony Computer Entertainment America will be conducting focus groups to discuss consoles, software and other gaming-related topics on the evening of June 24th in the Los Angeles area.

If you qualify,you will participate in a discussion lasting approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. All participants will be paid $100 each.

Because we want your unfiltered opinions, we have hired an independent research company named Focus Pointe Santa Monica to conduct these discussions. If you would like more information or would like to participate, please click here and fill out the questionnaire about yourself and the videogames you play. If you qualify, you will then be contacted as soon as possible to see if you are available.

Remember, we are looking for all sorts of different gamers, so just answer the questions honestly. We would love to hear your opinions!

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, please click here and you will be contacted if you qualify.

Thanks,

Sony Computer Entertainment America

(links removed)

A hundred dollars for my opinion? Hells yes I will. So what did I do? I clicked on the lovely little link and filled out my questionnaire, and waited. And waited.

On Tuesday, I got the call from them, and I got into the focus group. The voice on the other end of the line pretty much gave another questionnaire, rehashing what I had answered earlier to confirm I was who I said I was. A little redundant, but whatever. Anyway, after about twenty minutes of 20 Questions, I was told that I would get another call soon, so I am waiting on that. But overall, it looks like I'll be able to give Sony a piece of my mind, and get paid for it.

As a side note, they did ask a few questions about Playstation Home, and I am hoping that some of this discussion will be geared towards Home, so I will be able to throw my hat into the ring and tell it straight what I want to happen, and maybe I'll take some complaints from the peanut gallery too.

Gaming Rig!

So here's the scoop.

I spent a good chunk of Sunday moving out my gaming rig from the storage bin into my room. Not an hour ago, I hooked it all back up: monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. The only thing missing right now is internet.

I am trying to remedy that right now by attempting to piggyback Internet to the gaming rig via this laptop and an Ethernet cable. And, well... It's pretty slow going. Learning how to set up a home network is hard. :/

Axes To Grind in 919

Earlier today, I found out that my best friend was banned from the Playstation Network on a charge I have never heard being issued before: scamming.

I am accused, on May 21st, of "scamming." Of trying to collect people's information for a website that generates PSN cards. The person I spoke to reviewed my activities on that day in the chat log but could not see anything. I told this person that I do not know of any website that generates PSN cards nor would I try to get people's pesonal information. This has come completely out of left field. What is the website?

I've known J-T-W-NY since December 2008, and she is one of the most honorable and upstanding people in the universe, and an accusation like this is far beyond the pale of human imagination.

We are both passionate users of the Playstation Home application, and have continually stuck by it through the numerous bugs, glitches, and hiccups that plague the app on a daily basis. I, personally, have served a suspension for a charge of "sexual harrassment" last year, and that was right out of left field for me as well. It's insulting to think that people like me and J-T-W, who have spent countless hours and several hundreds of dollars into this app, could be accused with such infractions as sexual harrassment or scamming.

My opinion? Someone doesn't like what someone else has to say.