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« April 2003 |
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| June 2003 »
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MEMO: MORE GUINEA PIGS!
ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH!!! Just pieced together another memo that mentions 4 OTHER BETA TESTS! Doesn't mention where the betas were or the dates, just that the results were similar. And interestingly enough, it talks about the effects on the gamers, not the game itself, so I just know it's 2k4. Keep on divin, Beta-13!!!
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11TH BLACKOUT
Had a blackout today, and messed up this one pile of shreds I was working on in the process, which sucked cuz i had to start all over. didn't really hurt myself too bad though, cuz i've got pillows all over the place now and stay in my room pretty much 24/7. Haven't really seen Jeremy in days, although i got the rent and bills covered, so at least he probasbly won't kick me out for at least another month.
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CAN I LIST THIS SKILL ON MY COLLEGE APPLICATION?
Got another box of dumpster stuff today and i've been able to piece togheter pages quicker, probaly because i'm more inspired and motivated, but also getting more efficieint at it. Nothing else incriminating yet, gotta keep going.
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MEMO: A CRACK IN SEGA'S ARMOR
HELL YEAH! Found a memo that says RE: BETA TEST, 3/22/03!!! Didn't really give away anything specific, but said marketign would have to put the project "on hold" until they "assess the situation"…Hmm, what "situation" could that be, Sega? The "situation" where I went nuts and tackled the guy next to me!?!
Took a picture of the memo and sent it to b13 and b5 right away. Finally we're on to something! We gotcha now Sega!!!
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BETA-5 RETURNS; BETA-13 TAKES A DIVE
Got an email from Beta-5! When I first talked to him before I was thinking he was kind of sketchy, an dthen I didn't hear from him for like 2 wks, so kind of wrote him off, but it turns out the guy is solid and its awesome that he's on our side.
He's been working on hacking into the sega server, and he thinks it could be pretty soon that he gets in!!! Hopefully there will be some stuff on their intranet, emails, maybe something that will give us some clues. He's ULTRA paranoid about getting busted though so he want's to keep our communcations to a minimum, that's why i havne't heard from him in so long.
KICK ASS!
Called Beta-13 to fill him in and just kept getting voice mail, which made me nervous. But he finally called me back. Told him about B5. He was stoked and definately wants to work with him on this. We should keep him in the loop about whatever shredded stuff we come up with, but don't tell him any details about Beta-13 or the janitor job, just that I have a friend on the inside. He asked if i got a package yet today, but I havn't. Said it's the first of the dumpster stuff and should take priority.
Two hours later, just got it. Damn, it's a BIIIIG one too. My eyes hurt already.
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EVEN MORE SQUINTIN' & TAPIN'
Still taping. This sucks. RTCW comes out tomorrow and I don't know when the hell i'm gonna get to play it. I shouldn't really complain though, Beta-13 is doing this crap AND working as a janitor...
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MORE SQUINTIN' & TAPIN'
Been squinting and taping all freakin weekend now, and I REALLY feel like I'm going insane. I mean, the whole sitting on the couch videotaping myself was a carnival compared to this. Haven't played any games in like forever, and i've been jonesing to, but the boxes keep piling up and I don't want to let B-13 down.
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SQUINTIN' & TAPIN'
Spent all last night piecing through these shredded papers. It's already a nightmare putting them together, but with Lucky around, it's damn near impossible. I spent an hour and a half piecing together this one page, and then Lucky just comes in and pounces on it and swats it all over the place. I screamed at him and then felt really bad, cuz he just thought I was playing, and he hasn't tried to play with me for a long time. Sorry Lucky, but I've just got too much work to do.
Had to lock him out of my room while I went to Target this morning to get some more tape, cuz there were a bunch of pages done, laid out on the floor but not taped together yet. I bought 20 rolls and the cashier gave me a wierd look.
It's frustrating, because the pages I've put together so far are just a bunch of crap anyway, memos about which copy machine to use, info on the company picnic, etc. I've got a killer headache and feel like i need glasses.
Man, I just got ANOTHER box of shreds delivered and I'm not even through the first one yet! AAAARGH!
B-13 just called a little while ago, we compared notes, he's got nothing either. He said he thinks the goods must be on another floor, so he's gonna start dumpster diving after his shifts, but that its kind of risky because there's a lot of security to watch out for. I told him good luck, brother.
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THE DIRT STARTS A-PILIN'
Just got a gigantic box from Beta-13, which was weird because it hardly weighed anything. I open it up and there's all this shredded paper, and I'm pulling it out, looking for what's at the bottom, but that's it. Inside the lid theres a note taped that just says "Here's your half, buddy. Grab some scotch tape." This is gonna be a loooong night.
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10TH BLACKOUT: DE-THRONED
Had another blackout today, this time while i was taking a dump, which added a whole nother layer of complications, to say the least. Thank god Jeremy was at work, and thank god I just bought a bottle of bleach the other day.
Lucky won't even come near me anymore, but at least he seems a little happier since he's got the iams cat food again.
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MY MOP-WIELDING TROJAN HORSE
Beta-13 called at 4:15 this morning! It woke Jeremy up and he was pretty pissed but he'll get over it. I told B-13 I was glad he called, but it'd be nice if he tried to remember about the 3 hr time difference. He said sorry, but it was too important to wait till later, because he just got home from his new job...AT VISUAL CONCEPTS!!!
He lives in the bay area so he went to check out the janitor place the other day, saw a "help wanted" sign, and kinda just followed his spidey-sense. Turns out this place does VC, so he started last night as one of the night janitors there in San Rafael, which is like an hour drive from where he lives. I gotta give it to the guy, he's really dedicated. He said it sucks, but he needed a job anyway after getting canned for the tackle incident, and this way, he's pretty much got a whole floor to himself most of the night, so if he blacks out its less likely to attract attention. He's going to snoop around and see what he can find out, and he'll keep me posted. Cool! I think things are finally starting to turn around.
I told him about my contact with Beta-5, how he's also had the blackouts. This kind of freaked B-13 out, but I told him I didn't mention hiim or his plan at all. I told him I just wanted to keep him in the loop about everything, so there wouldn't be any surprises or anything.
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9TH CIRCLE OF BLACKOUT HELL, THEN... PENNIES FROM HEAVEN!
HELL YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAH!
Somebody up there likes me! I don't hear from my dad in like a month and a half, and then out of the blue today I get a check in the mail for $600! There's a note that says, "Heard you were having some rough times - hope this helps. Love, Dad. PS: Don't tell your mother." Guess that guilt he felt about missing my graduation last year finally must of come to a head.
Had another blackout today (first one in almost two weeks), this time while I was online in my room (banged my head into the closet door), and Beta-13 never called like he said he would, but I don't even care. I'm just so stoked to finally have a little money. I've really been jonesing to buy some new games, but i'd better hold onto this money, cuz I don't know when I'll get any more.
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WILL TACKLE FOR FOOD
Brought Mirra2, MGS2, SW Starfighter and Cool Boarders 2 into gamestop today, but they were only gonna give me like $2 apiece in store credit for them. Took them to American pawn and got $16 for the whole lot, so at least I can eat for another week or so if I shop right, but I don't know where I'm gonna get the money for the power bill next week. I don't wanna have to sell ALL my stuff! THIS SUCKS!!!
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BETA-13 MOVIE A SMASH HIT!
Got a delivery today from Beta-13! The return address was a po box in San Francisco and the name just said Beta-13. Inside was a VHS video with a note that said, "Just sit tight for the weekend. Talk to you Monday. In the meantime, enjoy my screen debut. -Beta-13."
It's a surveillance video showing a mailroom guy pushing a cart by some cubicles when all of a sudden this guy runs into frame and tackles the mail guy! He does a little victory dance, just like I did and then passes out. I recognized the tackler from the beta test, so I knew it was for real.
Called Toby to try to get that $20 I fronted him like a month ago, but he just cried poverty. Prick. I wonder how much they give you for selling your plasma over at county. I hear they give you donuts and juice anyway, which would be a treat at this point.
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BETA-5: THE STRONG, SILENT TYPE
I now have $27 to my name and no job prospects, but I'm trying not to get to bummed about it, although i don't know how i'm going to pay the rent next month. Lucky is pissed that i'm giving him the cheap cat food now, but I guess he'll eat it if he gets hungry enough. The way things are going, I might eat it if I get hungry enough. I keep checking my email, but no word from Beta-13.
AWESOME! I just got an email reply from Beta-5! At first he seems even more paranoid than Beta-13. We email each other back and forth for like an hour. He has like a million questions about the beta test, the facility, what I look like, etc. All details to verify that I am who I say I am.
When he finally figures out I'm for real, he tells me that he too has had the blackouts, although only 2 so far. He went to the doctor and even had a catscan done, but they didn't find anything abnormal. I don't mention Beta-13 yet, (in case it's actually him testing me or something), but I think Beta-5 is down with sharing info with me. He absolutely insists that there's to be no phone contact, though.
Still no word from Beta-13 today. Maybe he was just jerking me around and has no intention of keeping me in the loop.
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BIRDS OF A FEATHER...
Just got off the phone with Beta-13! He called me at like 2:00 am and we ended up talking for like 20 mins. I offered to call him back so he wouldn't have to pay the long distance, but he said it was alright.
He was a little paranoid at first, and it was hard getting info out of him. After a while though he figured out I was for real, and he ended up telling me he's been having the same kind of blackouts I have! I told him we should team up and go after sega, strength in numbers and all, but he just said he already had a plan in the works and that if he let me in on it might screw it up.
I finally talked him into us working together, but he said he didn't want to give me any details cuz he was on a cordless and didn't want to risk anybody picking it up. He said he'd keep me posted, though. I hope he wasn't just jerking my chain so I'd get off the phone or something.
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BETA-13
Had Rob drive me over to the office building where the beta test was (told him i'd been having car trouble lately and needed him to drop me off for a job interview) The place was empty. Walked around till i found the building manager. He said they never had a tenent called Sunshine Survey Systems, and the place I took the test had been vacant for 6 months! I showed him the invitation and was like, well isn't it this address? He said yeah, it's the right address, but he didn't know anything about it. Whatever! I started getting pissed and he threatened to call the cops on me, so I called Rob to come pick me up.
When I got home I emailed all the other beta testers from that list that Beta-x gave me, telling them what was going on with the blackouts and asking if they had any info, if they were contacted by sega, etc. I should of done this sooner, i guess i was kind of naieve thinking I could get to the bottom of this myself. Plus, I didn't really want ot give out my email address, in case the guy I tackled wants to sue me or something, not that he'd get anythihg out of my broke ass anyhow.
DAMN! Just checked my inbox and 6 of the emails I sent out got bounced back! I hope somebody responds.
Just got an email from "Beta-13". It just said, "How did you get my email address?" I emailed him back and told him about the contact list from beta x, the video, the janitor service. I gave him my phone number, sort of as a show of good faith and asked if he could please call me when he gets the chance (didn't wnat to call him even though I already had his # cuz i figured it would freak him out too much.)
Hope I didn't scare him off, becuase he's about all i have to go on right now.
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PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN...
NO MORE MR. NICE GUY, DAMMIT! This is the final straw with these bastards at sega!
Finally got an email response from "Thomas" at Sega support, saying they haven't even beta tested nfl 2k4 yet, they don't test in Orlando, that's not the way they do beta tests anyway, and the video is obviously some kind of practical joke! But just give us your "legal name" (gee sega, how do you know "Beta Seven" isn't my real name?), address and fave console and we'll send you some free games! Well woop de doo! Gosh sega, you mean all I have to do is give you my name and address so you can send the cops to my place and I'll get some of your outdated, factory-surplus games that I probably already have anyway, ABSOLUTELY FREE? What a deal!
Guess Beta-X was right about the contact sheet "disappearing"…who is this Beta-X??!?
Karen called today. I told her I was busy, but still ended up talking to her for almost an hour somehow. Fortunately no blackout during that time. Seems like she really really wants to get back together, but i'm too scared to even see her. What if i freaked out and tackled her or something (she always liked it kinda rough, but not that rough.) She wanted to come over, but I told her I had a bad chest cold and didn't want to make her sick.
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"SORRY, WE DON'T HIRE PSYCHOTIC TACKLERS"
Looked through betawatcher.com today, but couldn't find any mention of NFL 2k4. There is definately some kind of covert stuff going on at Sega. Can't find any mention of this game being beta tested anywhere.
This money situation is really starting to get to me. Applied at the Gamespot on Edgewater today, but I don't think they'er even hiring, it was just one of those, "We're always accepting applications, don't call us we'll call you kind of things." Definitely not holding my breath.
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MY KINGDOM FOR A HANDS-FREE HEADSET
Another long, fruitless day of phone runaround with Sega. I'm really starting to get pissed. Another day of this and I think my neck will be permanently bent at a 45 degree angle. This time I wasn't holding back, I told every human I could get a hold of about the beta test, the video, the insider document, everything. Was harder to get through to an actual human since it's Saturday, just regular customer service people. I could tell they didn't take me seriously, like they thought I was on Crank Yankers or something. One guy actually laughed and said, "good one, kid," and hung up on me, which REALLY pissed me off.
Am trying to stretch my $$$ even more, so I switched from Top Ramen to the store brand cuz you can get 7 for a dollar instead of 5. I figured ramen was ramen, but this stuff tastes like ass and is way saltier. Top ramen is a 5-star gourmet meal compared to this. I think Lucky is actually eating better than i am lately.
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IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?
Screw this emailing stuff. I decided this morning that I just need to get a real human (or the closest equivalent employed by Sega) on the phone. Easier said than done though, since there's not really a voice prompt that says, "If one of our beta tests has turned you into a raving, homocidal maniac, press 4."
Spent literally all damn day on the phone, getting disconnected, calling again, getting the runaround. Obviously I'm not going to get through to who I need to talk to through their switchboard, but I don't know how to get any direct numbers. Everybody just kept switching me to their supervisors, and I was trying not to tip my hand to much till I'm actually talking to somebody who matters. Guess it ain't happenin today though.
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8TH BLACKOUT: INNOCENT TRASHCAN MALLED TO DEATH
AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGH!!!
I guess my newfound sense of purpose and lack of blackouts lately must of lulled me into a false sense of security. For a while there, I actually forgot I was a hermit, a monster that must be kept separate from the herd.
So i go to Fashion Square today to check by EB, even though its kinda torture not having the money for any new games. Then I drop 2 bucks and treat myself to a Auntie Anne's almond pretzel with caramel dip, even though it's not really in my budget. Then...
I wake up in the mall security office. I can tell there not sure what to do, they've never dealt with this kind of stuff before. This guy who I guess is the mall manager asks me if I'm alright, which I can tell he's saying just as a formality before they start reaming me. The security guy standing over me looks like he's just waiting for permission to take my head off.
I ask if I hurt anyone, and they say no (whew!), but I did knock over a garbage can in the food court and freaked everybody out. Thank god I didn't fall down the escalator or something. I quickly tell them about my "medical condition" basically like with my neighbor, and that I'll see my doctor as soon as I leave, I'm so so sorry, etc. I think the mgr. can tell I'm not making it up (I mean, he must of seen me pass out and everything, and I'm sure they had to carry me there), but the security guy is like dying to tear me a new one.
They end up not calling the cops, I think mostly cuz they don't wanna end up on the news tonight, but hey, neither do i. But if I ever set foot in the mall again they will press charges.
And I don't think I even got to eat all of my pretzel.
Emailed Sega again with basically the same message, this time to sega sports. Still nothing but another BS autoresponse. This goddam company is broken up into like a million different braches, Sega usa, sega sports, sega amusements, sega dreamcast…Unfortunately there's no listing for "Sega Mind Control."
I think maybe my emails are just being filed under the "entertaining wackos" folder and people are having a good laugh about them around the water cooler or whatever. Yeah, just keep on lauging, Sega.
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SEGA SILENT; MOM NOT
Still no reply from Sega. Figure I'll give them a day, since they're probably figuring out what to say to me. Feel sorry for whoever has to write that letter. Not that sorry i guess though.
Finally had to tell Mom I lost my job, and she wasn't too stoked, to say the least. Lecture city. I don't really want to fill her in on all the crap that's going on, cuz I think she'll just enter panic mode and end up messing up what i'm trying to do. After a while I'll fill her in, but for now, she just needs to keep believing that I'm just a lazy kid who can't get his shit together, which I'm sure she's used to thinking anyhow. It just sucks, cuz i know she's not going to help me out on the $$$ front when she knows i'm not even really looking for a job.
I LOVE RAMEN NOODLES! (Just have to keep telling myself that.)
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DEAR SEGA...
Emailed Sega today. I'm guessing Beta X probably isn't there anymore, assuming he ever even worked there, and I figured maybe I should just call them on their BS. I mean, knowing that i've got my hands on this encriminating evidence should at least make them sit up and take notice. Why should i be the one doing all the snooping and sneaking? Let them figure out how to satisfy ME.
Got a reply right away, but it was just an autoresponse, FAQ suggestions about Dreamcast and their warranty return policy. Kinda made me crack up. Gee sega, can i return my BRAIN within 90 days and get a new one!?!
I'm sure it'll take them a little longer than your standard support question, hopefully their talking to their lawyers and shaking in their boots pretty soon. That's right, Sega you better whatch your back!
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CLEANING HOUSE, SEGA?
Did some research online and on the phone today and found out that the return address on the fedex is a janitorial service. Called them, but they wouldn't give out the names of any of thier employees or clients. Not sure if Beta-X works for the janitor service or Sega or what...?
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FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD BETA-X
Breakthrough! Hell yeah! I had all but given up hope, but now I'm ready to start fighting again. Time to stick it to The Man, as Homer J. Simpson would say.
So I'm playing NBA 2k3 today (the game doesn't seem to be a blackout trigger) when there's a knock on the door, and I'm thinking great, what now. It's a Fedex package addressed to Beta-7 and the handwritten airbill says it's from an address in San Rafael, Ca.
Inside the box is an unlabeled VHS video along with a sticky note that says "Check your email." Oookay, now I'm looking around the room to see if someone's watching me. So I open my inbox, and I've got an email from a Sega address by someone calling himself "Beta-X." It says, "Thought you might find this interesting. We have a lot of interesting things here. Attached PDF is of a document that has mysteriously "disappeared" from our server. Use this last copy wisely. - BETA-X " The document is labeled "MARCH 22 NFL 2K4 BETA TEST 005A" with a list of the names and contact info for all the beta testers. My name and info are on there, identified as "Beta-7."
At first I'm pretty freaked out, but then I realize this is a good thing, whoever sent this is on my side. And then it hits me, "I'm not crazy." It's the first time in a while I've been able to say that to myself and actually believe it.
I pop in the video and it's footage of the beta test. I see myself playing the game, then just like on my home video I drop the controller, crouch down, and tackle Beta-8 out of his chair, off camera. There's a lot of yelling, and the guy and girl with the clipboards come running across the screen after me. It's still disturbing to watch and kind of creeps me out, but it doesn't bother me nearly as much as the first video.
I sat down and emailed a reply to Beta-X thanking him and asking if he had any more info, but I just got back a delivery failure email from the hotmail server.
There is definitely something seriously heavy going on here and I WILL get to the bottom of it.
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"IN MY EXPERT OPINION, YOU'RE SCREWED"
Called Nate's dad who's a lawyer, told him about what's been going on and asked him what I can do about it. He said it definitely sounded weird to him, and that personally he thought the beta test probably had something to do with my "psychotic episodes," but that legally I'm pretty much SOL.
For one thing, unless I can prove beyond reasonable doubt that there's some sort of correlation between the beta test and the blackouts, there's not much of a case, and he doesn't think I can prove anything at this point, since there doesn't seem to be any one thing that keeps triggering them. He said sometimes flashing lights and stuff like that can trigger epileptic fits, but because of the paper I signed, they're probably not liable for that kind of stuff anyway. And he's never heard of any epileptics spazzing out and thinking they're NFL linebackers! Plus, given my age and all that, he thinks a jury might think I was making it all up just to get some easy cash.
God this sucks. I don't even want any cash, I just want my godamn life back. Jeremy now has ALL of his stuff, including the tv, in his room and he keeps the door locked all the time. Fortunately he's usually in class or working, so I don't have to see him all that much, but I get the feeling he's going to ask me to start looking for another place pretty soon. Honestly, I can't say I'd blame him.
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