The Position? No, De-Position!
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Work Stuff

I can't talk about it.

Let me clarify:

I can't talk about specifics. I can't talk about the case.

I can, however, talk about the experience.

I've never been deposed before. Today, I was. Nearly seven hours (with breaks) of questioning. Tedious. Nerve wracking. Why? First, there's the mind numbing detail to be discussed. Second, there's the questions, especially when you know they're trying to get you to say or characterize something in a particular way to help their case.

You have to be honest—sworn testimony and all— so you start worrying that maybe you misremembered something and it'll come back to haunt you.

It ended just before 5, but it's not over. I probably have to appear at the hearing.

Oh, and then I have to do another deposition for a client of mine.

I can't talk about it, but I don't like it.

I could, however, go have a couple of stiff drinks.

I did.

E3 2006 -- Day 4: PAC-MAN the Love Bug
Topic: Work Stuff

 

Another car...this one not mine...dammit!

E3 2006 -- Day 3: No Wii for Mii
Topic: Work Stuff

This morning I’m driving Scott and some of the members of our Japanese sister company to the show. The Neverlost system goes bananas again. It can’t figure out where we are. Fortunately, having driven this route before, I’m able to do it by memory, and we get there with no issues.

Probably the only thing in the consumer videogame arena I’m really interested in seeing is the Nintendo Wii (pronounced “We”). Unfortunately, for mii to sii the Wii was not meant to bii this E-Thrii. I did try, though! Using the magic of mobile phone technology I tracked down by good friend Alyssa Finley, and after a brief look at the Playstation 3 (boring...look, we can render mud more realistically on HDTVii), we decided to try to sii the Wii. Unfortunatelii, the line to get in was thrii hours long! I visited with Alyssa until I had to run off to a meeting I had misentered on my calendar, leaving her to wait 2.5+ hours without mii.

So, what’s no interesting about the Wii? Well, the one thing I really respect Nintendo for is their focus on pure gameplay, and that they’re aiming to break some of the conventions of the industry with this new console. Instead of aiming to push the most polygons on the screen, they’re aiming for a low-cost machine with a simple controller with really fun games. The controller, which look not unlike a TV remote, is actually waved around. Swing it to bat a ball in baseball or serve in tennis. Point it at the TV like a gun then you shoot.

Today’s my second day hosting the PAC-MAN Tournament, but this time I go all out and don the big shouldered authentic 80s jacket I brought along with narrow leather zip-on tie. Now I really fit in with our 80s booth babes. At first I try to get the babes to co-host with me, but none give it quite the “oomph” it needs, even with the megaphone, so I take it over and play EmCee again...just louder than yesterday! PAC-MAN and Ms. PAC-MAN make another celebrity visit, and I compliment the Ms. on her sexy pink boots.

That tournament done, I’m asked to EmCee a spontaneous Time Crisis tournament, and spend the next 20 minutes walking around announcing, “Time Crisis tournament on now! Get the top score of the tournament and win this prize: Time Crisis 3 for Playstation 2 with Guncon!”

I end the day meeting a potential candidate for a job at our company, and walking through our comptetitors’ booths with him. In two words: we rock! Our booth and presentation shows we’re the company that takes this most seriously. The guy seems good. Seems to know his stuff. Will bring him to our office for a proper interview sometime after the show.

The Chairman Visits
Topic: Work Stuff

Important visitor at work today. Nakamura-san, the founder of Namco, visited our offices. This is the second time I got to meet him. He doesn't really speak English, but he did read a message to our whole group in English, which was a very nice gesture.

One Orbit around the job
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Work Stuff

Well, today is my one year anniversary at Namco.

Enviable things about my job:

• Getting paid to play and analyze games like PAC-MAN, Pole Position II, Galaga...amongst others
• Getting to track down and meet people whose games I played back in the day. The creator of PAC-MAN and the creator of Miner 2049er, for instance.
• Having a half dozen arcade machines right there
• An office with a door I can slam
• Working with super-cool people like Amy Steele ("Ya-hoo!")
• Getting to travel to places like Comic-Con, E3, and the Tokyo Game Show
• Did I mention getting paid to play games?
• A boss who appreciates tequila
• The money!

The Press Release says it all
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Work Stuff

June 16, 2005 08:00 AM US Eastern Timezone

Mobile Division Recognized for Recent Growth and Success; Namco America Announces Promotion of Three Key Executives in Mobile Division

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 2005--Namco America Inc., a leading publisher of wireless games and content, today announced the advancement of three top-level executives in its wireless division. The promotions, which are effective immediately, will better position the mobile division to achieve its goals and reflect its recent success as a leader in the industry.


As Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Scott Rubin is responsible for the overall business and marketing direction of the wireless division, as well as maintaining relationships with strategic partners, including wireless carriers. Maurice Molyneaux, Director of Product Development, will establish the strategic product roadmap and quality of new titles. Umesh Ghodke will develop strategic technology plans as well as websites, portals, and IT infrastructure as the Director of Information Technology.

"The mobile games industry is thriving, and our quality titles, strong partnerships and revenue growth reflect our dedication and excellence in this industry," said Kenji Hisatsune, Executive Vice President and COO of Namco America. "With Scott, Maurice and Umesh, we have the best leadership in place to continue increasing our market share."

Namco America's mobile division just released a new title, PAC-MANIA (a 3D twist on the classic arcade game PAC-MAN), with plans for additional titles and partnerships to be announced soon. Building on its strong standing in the industry, the mobile division currently offers its games through most carriers in North America. Additionally, Namco America is a leading provider of games for the Palm OS and Windows Mobile platforms worldwide.

About Namco America

Namco America Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Namco Limited, a Tokyo-based world leader in the high-tech entertainment industry. Committed to providing the ultimate interactive entertainment experience, Namco uses cutting-edge technology and advanced electronics to take their wireless, coin-op, and home video games far beyond traditional entertainment. For more information about Namco mobile games, please visit: www.namcogames.com.

PAC-MAN(R) (C)1980 2004 Namco Ltd., PAC-MANIA(TM) (C)1980, 1987, 2005 Namco Ltd., All Rights Reserved.

What we'll do for a sheckle
Topic: Work Stuff

What'll we do to sell PAC-MAN?

As the early 1920's baking soda ad goes (and, no, it's not an actual Chinese proverb) One Picture is Worth Ten Thousand Words:

Are we proud? Heck, no!

Lord I was born a Trav'lin Man
Topic: Work Stuff

Today is the day I head for L.A. for the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3. This is the big video game industry trade show where vritually everyone previews their new wares and tries to show that theirs is bigger than everyone else's.

The show actually start tomorrow (Wednesday), so today is just about getting to L.A. and getting ready. I met Scott Rubin at LAX and we caught a cab to our hotel: the Omni. All was fairly uneventful until after lunch, when we tried to get a cab to the Convention Center, but found ourselves in a real-life comedy routine with three cab driver, the first of whom would not take us because we were carrying fast food to our co-workers Amy and Katherine. So, we tried the second cab, and he said we had to take the first cab, but the first cab refused...anyway, after several back and forths the THIRD cab finally took us. Such a hassle for 12 blocks!

Today is setup day for the show, so it's like backstage before the curtain. Everything's half assembled and half whacked, but it's fun seeing what's coming. The Namco booth is big, but our mobile division is around the side, like an afterthought. But actually, this separation is good because it puts us right on a major aisle instead of lost in the clutter. Our area's a little shallower than I expect, but I'm confident it'll look good when it's "live" tomorrow.

Scott and I return to the hotel and join two of the guys from Namco's wireless group in Europe. This is my first opportunity to meet them. Nice guys. Amy and Katherine join us after they're done setting up the booth, and the group of us have a very nice dinner.

The Boss Man Cometh
Topic: Work Stuff

Today we're busily trying to get ready for the big E3 trade show in LA, but we all have to drop what we're doing for a very important visitor: the Chairman of Namco Limited is coming to the office.

As a sign of respect we all came to the lobby and greeted him. An office was set up just for him for this visit. Later, we were all asked to come down and be photographed with him.

Left to right:

Scott Rubin, General Manager of Sales and Marketing
David Rhea, Lead Tester
Kory O'Daniels (with cap), Lead Tester
Rie Hisao (in front of Kory), Engineer
Me, General Manager of Product Development
Kaciho san
Rob Schoeppe, QA Manager
Bryan Chang, Producer
Jeff Buccellato, Producer
Umesh Ghodke, General Manager of Technology

PAC-Party
Topic: Work Stuff

After last night's late night with Iwatani-san, the last thing I felt like doing was another late night out. But, this was a special night, so there was no way in heck I was gonna miss it.

Every company has its goals. Well, we in the wireless division of NAMCO hit one of our critical milestones recently, so Kenji-san took us all out to celebrate.

Our destination was a really fabulous Greek restautant in Palo Alto. Many courses of food were consumed, and something like one bottle of wine for every person at the table (there were 14 of us).

I had fun asking many at the table a question my friend Alyssa had posed at Tommy's some years back: If you could have dinner with any three people who ever lived (and assume you could speak with them), who would they be? The answers sometimes surprised me. My own answers? My parents when they were 30, so I could see who they thought they were going to be, and Jesus Christ...just to set the record straight.



Amy's been "In the Basement" counterfitting again...


Late into the meal our Marketing Manager Amy Steele presented awards to everyone. Those of us who've been there the longest got lucite encased bills for One Million Dollars! Well, not real dollars...Federal Reserve PAC-DOTS...which I guerss one can only spend in PAC-Land. I guess I can buy all the power pellets I can eat! Others got faux gem's with a PAC-MAN ghost etched atop. Contrators got PAC-MAN boxer shorts and candy.

The evening got pretty silly late on. Kenji was drunk enough to start telling us his plans for world domination...then he'd back off and refuse to tell us the key ingredients in his plans. The tease!

Linked below are pictures from the event:

CLICK HERE to see most of the crew

CLICK HERE to see me getting my just reward