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What follows is one of the greatest video game related stories I've ever had relayed to me. I am not a primary source but this story still sticks out perfectly in my head. This happened at a large, international video game retail chain, which as I'm sure most of us can imagine or are experienced in seeing how quickly these stores can fill with parents or people that pay pretty much no attention to the industry outside of what the clerk says is coming soon and what has commercials on TV.
The store manager was on duty on this day, momentarily alone as his co-worker was on a break. Some country cowboy looking guy comes walking inside the store. Those that are familiar with the unpredictable, loose cannon redneck looking cowboy hat, cowboy boots, giant belt buckle, and white pocket t-shirt fanatic and what sort of random stuff can spew from their throats know that something completely awesome is heading our way.
This guy asks for a cockfighting game that was "Supposed to be out or coming out soon by EA." The manager on duty is completely stumped by what he's heard and asks for the request to be repeated, hoping his ears misheard. When his fears had manifested themselves as reality he turns to the computer he was already working. What followed was a few minutes of fake typing and fake google searching, this game would never exist outside of a random flash game that made the cockfighters caricatures of actual boxing stars.
So what proceeded this exchange involved the guy wondering why they did not make a cockfighting game and how well it would sell where he comes from. Trailer trash would buy many things that the rest of the public would consider completely outrageous, the country life is inherently different than being surrounded by buildings, annoying neighbors, sirens, and highway sounds. Its much more laid back and from experience, you see things that would make many urban dwellers vomit or break down weeping in a split second, so the idea of cockfighting is not as 'inhumane' or violent as it is in urban areas.
Still, keeping a straight face through this entire exchange takes some iron clad nerves that my experience with retail shows can pop up instantly from being put on the spot and yelled at. You tune out and turn into an apathetic policy spewer as it is your only tool to get rid of said angry or perturbed patrons. This exchange was much more friendly and it the mechanism for laughter was put down so the customer would not be offended by his completely ill informed request.
When said patron finally leaves the store the store manager drafts up an email relating this story to his fellow store managers throughout the district. The story ended up being eventually relayed to corporate headquarters where hopefully the 'Tale of EA Sports Cockfighting 2008' persists and gets yearly roster updates.
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