I agree -- this definitely seems like an excessive gift.  Then again, my parents bought myself and my youngest sister (she was 11, I was 4) a NES back in 1985.  That was probably pretty expensive as well.

I don't know if it's that excessive. Well in Australia it is, since it's more like 700 dollars. I used to get everything I asked for X-mas wise.

Even then I don't think I ever asked for more then 400 dollars worth of stuff, not even the years videogame systems launched.

Heh, i remember my parents used to trick me into thinking Santa Claus existed by buying me doubles of things I wanted but wouldn't mind getting doubles of.

"Two teenage mutant ninja turtles Sewer boards, with kicking feet in the front! That means Santa must of messed up!"

Man what a bunch of disrespectful members on this site, did any of you even bother to read the friggin story?!?

I thought it was OBVIOUS he wanted a 360 :/  

I might as well post this here, because I had an interesting conversation in gamestop the other day but didn't really want to make a whole topic for it. I was in there playing the Super Mario Galaxy demo when a woman (probably in her mid to late 30s) came in. She went to the clerk and this conversation ensued:

Woman: I'm looking for the game system with the motion controls.

Clerk: Oh, that's the Playstation 3.

Me (pausing the SMG demo in minor amusement): Actually there are two consoles with motion controls. The Playstation 3 and the Wii. Are you looking for the small white one or the big black one?

Woman (confused): I was looking for the one where you swing the controller to play tennis and bowling and stuff. I'm looking for a game system for our whole family to play.

Clerk: The Playstation 3 has downloadable games like that, and it's full of great family friendly games.

Me (now greatly entertained by where this is heading): If you are looking for the one that comes with 5 motion controlled sports game included, that's the Wii, but if you are looking for the one that plays Blu-ray movies and has better graphics, that's the playstation 3.

Woman: What's Blu-ray?

Clerk (visually upset): It's a disc type that makes games have better graphics and play better.

Me (trying not to laugh at this point): No, Blu-ray is a high definition movie format which has extra media storage space and can be played in 1080p on an HDTV. The Playstation 3 can play these movies.

Woman: Oh, okay. Well we already have a DVD player. I just want something to play games with. Which one is the cheapest?

Clerk (nervously): Well the Playstation 3 just came down in price to $400.

Me: The Ninendo Wii is $250 and comes with a pack-in game called Wii sports, which is most likely the sports games you were thinking of. Much of its game library is family friendly. The Playstation 3 is $400 at the cheapest and doesn't come with any games, although there are some family friendly games on it like Ratchet and Clank, there aren't a whole lot of family friendly multiplayer games for it.

Clerk (now obviously angry): You'll find much better games like Resistance and Heavenly Sword on the PS3.

Me: Sorry, but if you are looking for family games, those are very graphic and gorey and may not appeal to kids.

Woman (seemingly picking up on the clerk's desperation): I'm pretty sure the Wii is the one I was thinking of.

Clerk: Well we are sold out anyway.

Woman (to me): Thanks for your help. Do you know where I can find a Wii.

Me: Just check stores on Sunday. That's when most of them stock their shipments. Good luck.

(woman leaves)

Clerk: Get out if you're not going to buy anything!


Ah, I love when I see store clerks try to sell their favorite system any way they can. It's always funny to watch it blow up in their face too.

Bah I would have told the clerk..."I am going to purchase something just as soon as I get done messing with this demo you guys have out for people to play while they shop." And then when I am done playing just walk out =P

PS - What a douche.

@naznatips:

I would've kicked you the hell out of my store :P

Do stores get more... how is it called... "revenue" from PS3 games? Or are they just fanboys?

they do

also store employ is probably trying to get more points for the sony rewards program. More points they earn by selling Sony products the more things Sony will give them. Like 1 million Reward points = ford mustang with a PS3 entertainment system setup built in.

I was wonderring when they threw you out Naz. I'm just surprised they asked and didn't have security drag you out.

I hear multiple stories like this each year. It is surprising, to me at least, that average joe consumer does pick up on some things but it isn't very much.
That's why it's important for companies to try to control what those few tidbits are as best they can.

There was that survey a while back about where most people knew about motion controls/Wii Sports and that was driving their interest in the Wii. The problem for the 360 and PS3 is the latter is best known for its high failure rate (my cousins 10 year old wants a 360 with a fan so it doesn't blow up for example, along with a Wii but he isn't getting the 360 and the Wii has to be found) but not so much Live or graphics and the PS3 is mainly known for its price and now lack of BC with the PS2 not so much bluray.

Small things like no BC or Wii Sports can have a huge impact in consumer thinking.

when i was a kid, playtime was the time i wasn't getting beaten

Awesome story Naz. That clerk was hilarious, and has no idea how to sell things to customers.