590°

Seriously,This Should Be Illegal

For only $129, Geek Squad will help you to set up your PS3.

MisterNiwa6063d ago

What the hell? This should be INDEED illegal? What a rip off. O_o

PinkUni6063d ago

what the f*ck is wrong with these people?

i f*cking hate geeksquad

40 dollars for graphics card installation

now 130 for account setup that's pretty much all automatic?

this truly is criminal

IzKyD13316063d ago

This is about as stupid (if not stupider) than when bestbuy wanted to charge money to send a "technician" to your house to insert a disc into your video game console (I am not joking, this really happened)

Blaze9296063d ago (Edited 6063d ago )

hey hey! Not everyone knows how to plug a power cord into their wall jack!

lol jk, this is stupid. Anyone who pays for this service is an idiot...but then again that means they probably DO need help setting it up

Multi-Console Owner6063d ago (Edited 6063d ago )

Step 1: Greet victim and offer to remove your shoes.

Step 2: Commence friendly small-talk and smile often.

Step 4: Ask where the crime will take place.

Step 5: Open box.

Step 6: Plug in all cords.

Step 7: Turn on power.

Step 8: Upon start-up, a message will appear asking if you would like to use automatic display and sound settings.

Step 9: Select "Yes".

Step 10: Commit heist.

deadreckoning6666063d ago (Edited 6063d ago )

Holy Crap. This isn't even funny. There alotta people out there that can get taken advantage of.

calis6063d ago

People actually use this? Google it.

If only stupidity was illegal...

IdleLeeSiuLung6063d ago (Edited 6063d ago )

I mean they install the PS3, setup local user accounts with parental control and setup ONE online account. Where is the Xbox 360 offering? /sarcasm

In reality, I have no problems with this. If people are willing to pay for this assuming they have a need, then another competing service willing to do it lower will come. Capitalism baby!!!

evrfighter6063d ago

this is how corporations see console gamers LOL

jaykay jaykay

There could be some truth in that

Microsoft Xbox 3606063d ago (Edited 6063d ago )

Their installation plans are the biggest rip offs. How hard is it to install HDMI?

jessupj6063d ago

Well I guess they must figure if a few 360 gamers are stupid enough to keep purchasing 360 consoles when they inevitably break, they figure there must be stupid sony gamers as well that would be willing to pay for this service.

Sorry, I couldn't resist lol. I do apologise.

Biggunz6063d ago

actually they offer the same service for stupid 360 and Wii owners.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site...

It's just that Kotaku sucks at trying to be journalist.

iamtehpwn6063d ago

They had my BRAND NEW $1200 computer for once 2 months. They had it SO long the store eventually just replaced the computer and I never saw that PC again.

Snyph3r6063d ago

Pre-ordered Batman for $39 ad right now they are still out of stock, why accept pre-order if they're going to run out of stock? Gave them (geek Squad) a hell for it in their forum but they deleted my posts...they keep on insisting that pre-order doesn't guarantee you a copy .. W T F???

Sarcasm6063d ago

Typical best buy. I used to work for them a few years ago and always hated it. They always talked to us employees about "We want a no pressure work environment and for everyone to have fun!"

But when it boils down to it, "How many Service plans have you sold!?!?! You need to sell more service plans!! You did only 4 yesterday!" And it wasn't just one supervisor, it was every single manager who had that mentality. Then the bigger corporate suites would come in and do the same thing to the managers. Terrible place to work.

So I'm not surprised one bit that they want to hustle big time ripoff services like this.

n4f6063d ago

wow i would be rich by now if i would do it

will116063d ago

I'll do it for free and enjoy a cold beer with the customer

DominusRebellis6063d ago

Jock Squad: Will beat the living fvck out of the Geek Squad and setup you PS3 for FREE!!!

BLuKhaos6063d ago

Well if there are people that are willing to pay for this then by all means charge them.Business is business, or is that only ok when MS charges for online?

Real Gambler6063d ago

Not everybody is a tech brain, and I've seen so much screwy things in my life from people who's job is accountant, kindergarden teacher, or even a president of a huge enterprise with a doctorate!

Things like:
- Got sold a $300 Logitech Harmony remote with his set up, but was still using 5 remotes since he could not program it. (Even if these things are the easiest thing to set up in the world). Now, this guy would give away PVR, Microwave, pretty much anything in is house, but you cannot take his Harmony remote away from him...

- HDPVR set up properly (hey, cabling diagram was great), but since the owner was switching from lousy analog cable to digital cable, he was only watching digital cable, thinking HD was awesome. When I told him that HD channels were in the 600 range and showed him what true HD was, he was blowned away! (6 months watching regular digital cable with a $4000 set up and probably bragging that HD was awesome!)

- Having a XBOX 360 plugged with a composite cable, and thinking he was playing in HD. Set up XBOX for HD. Return one month later, XBOX still in SD. Asked? Well, kid brought the whole thing to a friend's place, and reconnected after (Probably had to use composite cable again at friend place, so used them again at home). Gave up on this one!

And the list goes on, and on, and on. Don't assume that because you know your way around cabling, that everybody does. Still agree though, $129 to connect a game console is a rippoff. I do that for free just because it's fun! But hey, for some people, if they don't know any tech guys, it's probably worth it!

+ Show (17) more repliesLast reply 6063d ago
mrv3216063d ago (Edited 6063d ago )

I think public nudity should be made more legal than this.

thor6063d ago

Public nudity is actually legal in most countries...

kaveti66166063d ago

Depending on who's walking around nude, that could be a bad thing. *OLD PEOPLE*

iceman066063d ago

You might want to rethink that comment. As a young, developing teenager of just about 14 I thought I would be in heaven with public nudity. That is until I moved to Greece. Between all of the sagging, 70 yr old breasts and the hair in places that most people don't have places...I lost my appetite for public nudity...it is better left to the imagination!**threw up in my mouth a little on THAT visual flashback***LMAO

KingKionic 6063d ago

lol!

bestbuy is hilarious.

I bet someone did this before .

D4RkNIKON6063d ago

They have "let us install it" on EVERYTHING at bestbuy... Even memorycards for cameras. Disks for game consoles wouldn't surprise me at all.

Peter North6063d ago

Everyone knows how to operate a Toaster, so Geeksquad are not bothering with the Xbox 360.

dragonelite6063d ago

ps 3 user are just stupid to setup up there own system.

j/k

6063d ago
sunil6063d ago

actually 360 and Wii installations are also 129.99

http://www.bestbuy.com/site...

Snake Raiser6063d ago

Except I didn't even need the manual to do this sh!t. Just plug in the chord into where it fits and turn on the system. You are auto told to update the firmware. So just press the X button to do that (as directed on screen) and to set up an account just follow on screen directions. So as long as you can tell what goes in which hole (lol) and you can read you don't need help with this. I might be willing to pay $25 if I was a lazy a-hole.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 6063d ago
Nitrowolf26063d ago

yup, best buy did the same with 360 for it parental patrol during christmas. It wasn't as much but still expensive. This is just wrong. I feel bad for anyone who does this.

Show all comments (110)
40°

15 Years Ago, Mortal Kombat (2011) Saved Gaming’s Biggest Fighting Franchise

A brutal reset, a smarter story, and a return to what made it great—Mortal Kombat (2011) revived the series.

Read Full Story >>
fortressofsolitude.co.za
italiangamer6d ago

"Gaming’s Biggest Fighting Franchise"

Press X to (seriously) doubt.

DarXyde4d ago

Underrated comment. I used to hate that game so much that any time my siblings asked me to play it, I just picked Hom and shut myself down mid-match.

Soy5d ago

And then MK1 killed it again.

DivineHand1254d ago (Edited 4d ago )

15 years went by so fast. I remember playing through the story mode at launch.

90°

PlayStation legend Shuhei Yoshida says Jim Ryan fired him because he didn't listen to him

Why did Sony push Shuhei Yoshida out of his role leading PlayStation's first-party games? He'd overseen some huge successes. Well, apparently, he didn't listen.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
Relientk776d ago

Yeah I can see that for sure. Shuhei Yoshida should have been in charge not Jim Ryan.

Cacabunga6d ago

It should be free highway for him now.. but Sony are too stupid to see this, especially that moron Hulst

S2Killinit6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Wtf why all that anger. PlayStation is dominating on every level. Besides I think there is a little more to hiring a CEO than just who is available. Its not like its a athlete your team wants to buy.

neutralgamer19925d ago

S2Killinit

live service failures, chasing trends, closing studios. yes dominating

Cacabunga5d ago

Sony is Dominating because competition is not existing. Compared to previous gens this is the poorest in terms of software offerings.

Last gen we got Uncharted 4 Lost Legacy and TLOU2 from ND alone.

This is so far a remasters gen, with no competition to lift up the quality

1nsomniac5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

..."PlayStation is dominating on every level"....

...Really???

PlayStation are soon heading into a new generation in the not to distant future. They currently have the worst customer satisfaction they've ever sustained as a company. The company is heading for a huge crash while at the same time they'll need to be planning how they are going to try and win back that favour and the build up to their new releases.

Yes financially they're winning but they're going to have to ride out this complete public corporate disaster. No one has faith in the company or the product anymore. They've damaged their public image so much this generation. Greed can kill anyone.

medman5d ago

Hulst is a disaster......

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
blacktiger5d ago

He would've done the same thing and fire Jim Ryan and Shuhei would be the villain. Why?
Because Elite creates the narrative and distraction for gamers, users and citizens.

Outside_ofthe_Box6d ago

More confirmation that Jim Ryan is the culprit for what has happened to Sony. Hulst needs to go too. What sucks is that a lot of the good top heads at Sony are no longer there. I wish that guys that were forced out prematurely by Dumbo Jimbo like Shuhei and Layden came back.

robtion5d ago

Yep. Yoshida was responsible for bringing one of the best games of this generation to playstation (Stellar Blade). He is an actual gamer and is in touch with what gamers want (creative, fun games, not GaaS and agenda pushing). He also seems like a genuinely nice guy if you watch some interviews. Of course they got rid of him.

darthv726d ago

Makes you wonder if MS even thought about hiring him after Phil and Sarah were leaving. He certainly couldn't make their situation any worse.

Agent756d ago

Microflop. After Windows XP and Xbox 360, it all went floppy.

S2Killinit6d ago

Floppy 😆
No pun intended

badz1496d ago

Yoshida for President! Jim Ryan was and always be a hack! Sony should get Shu back

Lightning776d ago

All the gamer/consumer lead heads are gone across PS and Xbox. shuhei gone phil's gone (questionable) but gone. The future of gaming is somewhat uncertain across the board.

Show all comments (30)
50°

Ex-Naughty Dog Dev: Big Studios Are 'Forced' to Hire Like Factories

Former Naughty Dog artist Gabriel Betancourt explains why the "sweet spot" for game teams is under 200 people and how AAA "factories" kill creativity.

Read Full Story >>
powerupgaming.co.uk
6d ago
phongtro123_com6d ago

There’s definitely some truth to this. When teams get too large, coordination starts to outweigh creativity—layers of approval, risk aversion, and tight deadlines can turn bold ideas into “safe” ones. Keeping a team under ~200 people sounds ideal for maintaining clear communication and a shared vision. That said, massive AAA projects also come with huge technical demands and expectations, so scaling up isn’t always avoidable. The real challenge is figuring out how to keep that small-team creativity alive inside big studio structures.

DarXyde6d ago

More than that, it's logistically untenable. Inevitably, when teams get too large, how do you keep tabs on accountability? I suspect this massive team size is a consequence of the perfectionism streak Naughty Dog has.

I wish we could have so many people working on something and it turns out great because I'm all for collaboration in spirit - the problem is too many people as part of the larger team and smaller units. Suppose for example that you have too many people in the art department; you will very often come up against fiercely competing visions for how things should look. That competitive vision will cause friction between team members, team doesn't work as a unit, the back and forth can further delay parts that the other departments are waiting for, etc etc.

A 200-person team says, to me, that we need to scale back game development. Even if it means we go back to PS2 era costs and scale, why not? Those games are still great fun, the budgets were in check, and you could literally break the 200-man team into like 10 20-man teams working on different projects.