bestbuy.ca sucks and Failout: New Lost Wages

Pre-ordering from BestBuy.ca SUCKS. I'm not going to back away from that statement. Because it's the truth.

Although this morning there were 3 emails from them, apparently the night shift in customer service has a better grasp of how things work in BB's fucked up supply chain. And today there is an In Stock symbol in the cart with my Fallout: New Vegas Collectors Edition. One of which, should be mine. It doesn't change the fact that my order has still not been processed and after that it will still be another 5 days to actually receive the game. Maybe.

But should it ever arrive.... it will remain unopened... so I can return it for a full refund.

In typical Bethesda fashion, the Fallout: New Vegas Hardware and Software Issues forum has been created and the all telling stickie at the top almost doesn't need to be read. But just for shits and giggles... here it is

Posted Today, 12:48PM

Just wanted to let everyone know, we are currently working on releasing patches/updates as quickly as possible for Fallout: New Vegas, for all platforms. Announcements regarding the patches are forthcoming.

WOW, well that's a relief.

I would like to point out at this time that the GOTY version for Fallout 3 was NEVER fully fixed or patched. Despite a Bethesda moderator stickie stating

We're aware of issues being reported. We are currently working on releasing patches/updates as quickly as possible for Fallout 3, for all platforms. Announcements regarding the patches are forthcoming.

The crashes, bugs and freezing patches were never fully released for the GOTY edition. Horrible stories then and now.

But it's so funny to go back and re-read the Gamespot.com previews of the Failout: New Lost Wages from 'hands on testers', who tester it twice. Now a short 5 weeks later Gamespot.com has posted this video review and think the game is almost unplayable.

Some quotes:
"Absolutely swarming with disastrous bugs"
"Not to mention frequent crashes on both consoles and corrupted game saves, which might cause you to lose progress."
" These are but a small number of the major bugs we encountered. Fallout: New Vegas is a technical mess."

So where was this little snippet of honesty... pre-release date. By not reporting issues within the game they are in fact endorsing it. But the gaming industry is such an incestuous thing. Shhhhhhhhh, we're still waiting for our cheque from BetaThesda to clear.

A sad thank you to all the BETA TESTERS across all three platforms, that PAID $60 -$90 dollars for the honour of attempting to play Failout: New Lost Wages on release day. Note to self: check worstbuy.ca return policy.

bestbuy.ca (aka Worst Buy Canada) pre-order backorder lying clusterfuckers for the Fallout: New Vegas Collectors Edition

So after much twisting in the wind, and anticipation as the impending October 19, 2010 release date of my Fallout: New Vegas Collectors Edition for Playstation 3, the day has finally arrived. No more sleeps. Everything is right with the world...

Until I log in to see that my item that I pre-ordered will be shipping today, aka release day.

OUT OF STOCK!

WHAT THE FUCK Best Buy Canada. What exactly does pre-order mean to you people. Back in the good old days of 2009 the Best Buy policy for pre-orders was that if you pre-ordered, you were guaranteed a game on the release date. This is from the glorious 2009 Best Buy Pre-Order Portal.

'Lining up for games is COOL. Not. When you pre-order online you're guaranteed a copy without the early morning drive. If you pre-order, you're getting your game; we don't oversell our pre-orders.'

Well apparently not any more. By the time I received a response from my very early morning email and phone call to their customer service departments, my local Best Buy store was also sold out.

So what was the advantage of 'pre-ordering' Fallout: New Vegas from bestbuy.ca? Besides the crushing disappointment of presuming I had ordered a game. NONE.

Except, instead of the expected confirmation email today saying it had shipped, I am instead stuck in some sort of twilight zone, submitted for your approval, you've pre-ordered and today is the day of release limbo where I supposedly have a pre-ordered game, that I don't have, or can't have, or can't get, because of some fatal cart flaw, and where no one can tell you if you will ever get the actual game you pre-ordered weeks ago for the sole purpose of avoiding all this 'Sold Out' , 'Out of Stock' and 'Back Ordered' on the day of release bullshit, because email queries and phone calls to BestBuy.ca customer service in Brampton, Ontario, are responded to our highly skilled blind deaf mute customer service representitives.

For a slow and vague response, please enter your question in the space provided below, then click submit. For an even less gratifying, but more immediate non answer, followed by cricket sounds and then a dial tone from an actual customer service representive, please press 1.

This call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes OR for the amusement of our staff during breaks and lunches.

sons of anarchy

Tomorrow night will mark the half way point, episode 7, of the third season of Sons of Anarchy on fx. We don't have cable that goes that high, so we're left to try and watch it some other way... which we do.

In my defense, I own the first and second seasons on dvd. Paid for on the first day of release. I understand the economics of it and support the show through buying officially licensed merchandise.

Unlike some Harley Davidson USA dealerships...

and Kurt Sutter, the SOA principle was PISSED enough to tweet these 140 character micro rants on Twitter.

SOA has boosted HARLEY sales and we get next to nothing in return. now i find harley shops are selling bootleg soa gear. fuck you HD usa. Sun Oct 10 17:27:25 2010

next season, SOA upgrades to VICTORY, the other great american bike. i'll make a story point about it, start to put a dent in the HD market. Sun Oct 10 17:29:20 2010

and two hours later (when calmer heads prevailed) this,

Okay so I probably won't pull them off harleys, that'll hurt the show, I just hate when big companies throw their monopolistic weight around. Sun Oct 10 7:21 PM 2010

So even big kids have copyright problems. They probably should have called the Sheriff and have them seize ALL the merchandise in the Anaheim HD store.... including the bikes. As potential evidence that needed to be processed looking for 'knock off or counterfeit product'.

Sometimes all you can get is 'sorry'. Which is followed up by your own 'Ooooops.... my bad'.

The good news is that SAMCRO will have a Season 4 also via Twitter.

Picked up for SEASON 4 motherfuckers!!! thanks to FX for the early pickup. Thu Oct 7 16:48:18 2010

We warmed up for the new season, by watching 4 -6 episodes a day on dvd, to get back into it again. The show seems to drag this season, especially as individual episodes, but I think that's in large part due to the week in between shows. I'm struggling with that now... but when season three comes out on dvd, it'll be all good again, except for the 9 month wait for season 4. Damn it.

furkids and Fallout

Sunday. Quiet. Inner calm.

The warmth of the coffee pulses through my veins after a trip across the street to medicate, feed, water and litterbox clean the furkids I have been entrusted with for the last 5 days. I'm starting to dread when the neighbours go away. Sam is pushing 20 and needs his meds twice a day. Griffin is maybe 4 or 5 and a bully when it comes to food. My greatest fear is something happening to Sam while they are away. Hopefully it won't be on my watch. They are supposed to be home today. To say he's always more than vague with details would be an understatement. So at what time today? That would be at best, a guess on my part. I think we'll be back on Sunday he says, as he drops the keys into my hand.

Todays agenda. Fire up the PS3 and play some Fallout3 to get ready for Tuesday's release of Fallout: New Vegas.

Although after being booted off the Bethesda Fallout3 forums for calling their GOTY edition for PS3 the 'Grift Of The Year' edition. The truth is, they totally fucked the PS3 owners. And the retailers stopped taking the games back because of the problem. And all Bethesda would post was that they were aware of the issue. Not working on a patch mind you.... but aware of the problem. It left me with a nagging doubt in my mind.

I had never had a problem with my plain vanilla collectors edition. So I chose not to 'upgrade' with any of the DLC's (downloadable content) or BUY the unPS3 unplayable in some regions 'Grift Of The Year' version. Bethesda's customer service leaves a lot of room for improvement.

So I have pre-ordered Fallout: New Vegas Collectors Edition. The love fest of game review sites is always sickening. I guess you never bite the hand that feeds you. But the hype for this game is leading me to wonder if this isn't the same 'Pump and Dump' scheme as their GOTY edition of Fallout3. I guess time will tell. The key will be to not open or play it until I can see some platform specific reviews.

Two more sleeps.

Ah, Sunday morning
cold grey and windswept dawn
hints at next season

it's a Vespa

Today, during a nor'easter, 'the nomaD' and I loaded our arses into his truck for a 9 hour round trip road journey to fulfill one of his bucketlist quests.

Mission accomplished.


He bought this white 1980 Vespa P200E. He has always wanted a Vespa. And now this little beauty has a loving new home.

è un motorino grazioso

Post Thanksgiving Bloat Post

The title says it all.

Apparently I consumed an excess of everything yesterday.... in some misguided attempt to prove how thankful I was. It was a mistake. Not being thankful... but the over-indulging part. I feel like a snake who's eaten an elephant.

Stretched beyond capacity.

But today is garbage day. A chance to burn off all that food with the multiple trips to the curb to continue purging the attic of 60 years of 'stuff'. The majority of which, is not even ours. The abandonments of former tenants dating back to the 1950's. There is a lot of history up there. Glassware for home canning, old newspapers, an old 75 pound cast iron sink, three old chairs... and cardboard boxes filled with other cardboard boxes filled with more cardboard boxes like Russian nesting dolls.

An urban archeological mecca of abandoned history.

Anyway back to the task at hand.

is summer really over?

It's warm this morning. 17C.

More summer than fall.

I had coffee on the deck to take advantage of the fact that although we are in the middle of hurricane season.... the cold harsh reality of the next season will soon clench it's icy grip on the Great White North.

It's been a month since I had the mighty KLR out for a stretch... so that's my plan for today. Made half a dozen phone calls by 9AM... and then piss some time away from the saddle. I've earned it.

Yesterday's suckerpunch from my ongoing legal skirmish over my copyright's has really pissed me off... and I need to clear my f'n head.

From one Starving Artist to another... your day in court is coming you thieving no talent bitch. Stuff your lazy ass $200 offer and choke on your lame apology. I rather ruin your career at this point than listen to any more of your lies.

sipping the stillness
at the end of september
pre-dawn coffee warmth