I can’t tell you how many friends, family members and strangers over the years have asked me to take over the controller and get them past a level (usually in a Water or Ice world) or a particularly hard boss, which has always prompted me to ponder if I could make that kind of thing into a business. I know someone whose babysitting job a couple times a week turned into a nearly full-time Tomb Raider-playing job for the mother of those kids until that game was finished. Just a year ago I was playing Super Mario Bros. Wii at a party when I was asked by an exasperated partygoer to get past that same level (yes, an Ice world) on his own Wii for money. I didn’t do it as I had a job then and I didn’t need the cash, but still. I’m not the greatest video game player, but I’m pretty good, especially at platformers (which drive people insane) and I at least appear friendly and trustworthy which helps. It’s not something I’d pursue in our universe – there are safety issues to consider, and it’s not really a career path I’m interested in anymore – but now that I don’t have an office job to hold me back, I have thought about making signs to post around my neighborhood to see if there would be any takers. Who knows?
So how ’bout you BOTpeeps? Are you the one who has to get your family and friends past hard levels? Or are you the one doing the asking?
Awesome job description!
heh. i think so, too, His Maxness! i think it’d look great on a flyer around town, actually…
and check you out: getting the first comment means you just achieved the Shades of Firsting! wear them well – these have walkthroughs and FAQs built-in:
😎
My family is kinda stratified into “people who don’t play video games” and “people who are pretty good at video games.” Though growing up, my accustomed position was as advisor to my brother “Hey, click that crack!” “Look, a hidden chest!” “Maybe put that puzzle piece there?”
i can relate to the “advisor” role, Erhannis. being the sole subscriber to Nintendo Power on my block when i was a kid meant i had all the answers to Mario, Zelda and Metroid. hmm. i shoulda charged for that info back then. 😉
I absolutely love all three of those.
me too. can’t wait for Mario Galaxy U, Zelda U and Metroid U, Jason!
I know right? Apparently Metroid is gonna have a Co-op feature,so I’m curious to see how that works out. And the Zelda title looks fantastic.
Botness! I just saw you will be in Seattle! I will again be unable to attend due to financial constraints, but do let me know if you need anything while you’re here, even if it’s the name of a good pho restaurant. (Pho Fuschia and Moonlight Cafe, if you’re wondering)
yep! i’m already excited, Psy! bummed you won’t be at ECCC but hopefully you’ll make it next year. as for Pho – i’m putting your suggestions in my phone right now in case i get a craving. thanks pho the tips. 🙂
*rimshot*
Yeah Fuschia is downtown on First Ave, Moonlight is on 20th and Jackson (about 5 blocks from my house). Also if you get a chance, try Gaba Sushi. They recently opened and have odd hours but if you can catch them… nom!
… and I’m totally entering tour guide mode…
sorry, i couldn’t help it. heheh.
i loooooOOve sushi so if Gaba is close to the convention center i might just give it a try. now i’m hungry.
I’m taking a plane to Seattle for the convention. However, I’m also looking to do other things as well while I’m there. After all, I’m flying all the way from York, Pa. I’m definitely planning to make the trip worthwhile. I’m already planning to visit the Space Needle and a Sci-fi museum. Would there be anything else for me to do such as rock faces to climb or arcades for me to visit?
Eh space needle… it’s alright. Don’t eat at the cafe at the top. Super expensive and not really worth what you pay for it. Pacific Science Center and Experience Music Project, awesome. There’s a pretty good sized comic book store in Pike Place Market and a huge arcade called GameWorks.
i really don’t know Seattle all that well as i always seem to be chained to the actual convention. i’ve been there twice now and have still never visited the Space Needle! i’ve been to GameWorks and Pike Place Market, though – there’s a place in the market with awesome chowder that i’m sure i’ll get again.
Well if you ever are here for a con, plan for an extra day or too. I’m sure there are other BotPeeps here in Seattle that would enjoy a reader hangout/gathering.
sounds fun! i’d be down for that.
LOL Gaba is on the other side of Downtown but you can catch the bus by the convention center and get off at Pioneer Square or International District Station. Problem with Gaba is, again, they are only open for lunch and I don’t think they’re open on weekends. And now I want pho and a Badboy roll… DAMMIT! How do I sushi at 1am??
getting late night food in Seattle was difficult last year for me & friends; we didn’t know where to go! we bussed everywhere though, so good to know Gaba can be attained that way if we get there early enough.
Yeah for a city its size, Seattle tends to close down really fracking early for reasons as yet unknown to man.
Darn it! My comment was not sent!
I do not play many videogames, the only game I was really into was Epic Mickey, and I didnt get past The Mad Doctor. My sister beat the boss during an allnighter, plus the rest of the game…
Congrats on finding the meaning of life… Oops, I meant your dream job. Well now all you need is customers who let their kids play with a 20-something guy.
i’ve wanted to get into Epic Mickey as i’m a big fan of Oswald, DAS, but i never picked it up (or its sequel for that matter.) i’ve heard the camera and gameplay can be frustrating but the story’s supposedly really good.
and, yeah – your last statement could be a problem for jefbot. i think the whole business would have to exist on referrals for that very reason.
Ah the dream jobs we had as kids. Curses be upon life for getting in the way!
curses! yeah, i had a ton of business ideas when i was a kid, TCG. wish i could remember them all!
Yep, reality is a b**** sometimes… You wouldnt imagine the things I dreamt of doing as a kid, but was shot down by my older sister and my parents realworld answers. I still often ask my dad why he watches soccer since it is only grown men running on a field kicking a ball and faking injuries. His answer: because that is what men do…
yeah, sometimes those RW answers suck, DAS, and you just gotta forge ahead anyway! of course, sometimes those RW answers are correct, and you gotta learn the hard way. 😛
‘bot, if this universe can support an app that checks you into Foursquare at all the hip clubs in your area for you (no, seriously, this is a thing: http://www.couchcachet.com/), then it can support the real-life Jefbot: Professional Video Game Player position.
ugh. that’s seriously a thing, JOE? buh. they need an app that exposes people that use that app!
You may have just found your true calling, ‘bot, making the CouchBuster app.
now i just need to learn how to program an app. buh.
I would have been happy paying someone to max out my Archeology in Warcraft. That was an experience I did not need to have. 😉
i’m sure there are people that would do that, Bill Burphy! heck, for the right price, i’d be willing. 😉
I love most video games, and I can only think of a few that I’ve been bad at..
Yet, I’m not great at any except for rock band.
My friends and I still get together and play it, and my job was the savior and the singer.
Mind you I tend to kick myself if I get 98% or below while singing on expert.
It was fun being the savior for the group, but I was still appointed that job whilst playing the Duma or guitar as well.
It really was though one of the best party games, and to me it’s the best..
Did you play?
Ugh just found out I’m super busy this week, 3 new places are starting to have karaoke, and im friends with the hosts, that and they are going to be pay to sing places.. Yes I like money, and yes I like supporting local karaoke but I am now going to be singing every night this week..
Want to take over a few places for me?
sure! i don’t think i’m gonna be winning any contests, though. 🙂
yep! i looooved Rock Band, Satoshieyes! it was a big hit whenever i brought it to parties but it suddenly lost its luster for some reason a year or two ago and friends just didn’t feel like playing it anymore and now we just do straight-up karaoke. weird.
If I ever get to L.A. For a few days we should go rock out some karaoke..
I love going out with people and get a drink or two in me and I’ll put on a hell of a show.. Heck I don’t even need the drinks if I’m having fun.
Or if you ever head down to ct for connecticon.
been thinking about Connecticon, Sato! i hear it’s pretty awesome. and i definitely need drinks before karaoke. 🙂
Wow – that DOES sound like it would be Jefbot’s dream job! It sounds like it could be a lot of fun in RL too, if you could figure out how to make it work. That’s the thing about dream jobs – it seems like they are either jobs that don’t actually exist yet so you would have to really work to get them going, or jobs that would be hard to get established in (or both).
I hope your current full time job of Webcomic Artist is going well and is supporting you at a sustainable level. 😀
SO true about dream jobs, Shanna. and while i’d LOVE to play video games for a living (as long as i’m not a tester or anything) i think writing, drawing and creating are just as fun, so i suppose JEFbot is my dream job! and yep, it’s running at a sustainable level right now, thanks to enthusiastic supporters like yourself. 😀
Morning Botiverse!!!!
So ok, My dream jobs have always been either in the performing arts (voice overs and the like), A video game tester or (my fave) Cosmetics tester.
Discuss!
morning, Pixie!
one of the things on my To Do list is to really start getting my demo out there for voice-over work. i love doing that stuff, too! and i hope “cosmetic tester” doesn’t involve chemists putting perfume in your eyes and testing how certain substances react to your skin…? 😉
LOL no silly Botikins!
It’s where they develop a new cosmetic and give you full sized samples to test and use.
*phew!* happy to hear that! 🙂
You become a professional video game hitman!
http://mashable.com/2013/01/09/dad-son-video-games/
I actually read that there is a market for what you want to do. People hire companies, mostly in Korea and India, to play as you in games like World of War craft, to level up. I thought about doing it a while ago for City of Heroes but realized that if I don’t do it myself, it’s not worth doing.
This also reminds that people would sell you memory with video game achievements on them. When I bought Final Fantasy VII the guy behind the counter asked if I wanted a card with all the stuff unlocked. I said no, but thought it was an interesting idea.
that’s an awesome article, TPC, and quite a crafty dad, i must say. heheh. i’d be SOOOO mad if i were his kid, though.
i’ve known about gold farmers and stuff you can hire from korea and china but that sounds like hell! i suppose i’d have to outline all my conditions if i was to make this a real thing. 🙂
I’m more disturbed by the possibilty of this working than I am that people would pay for it.
only one way to find out, Anime fan… 😀
Oh, man. I tried coming up with something original, but I have read comments above and realised its futile. I agree with everybody!
i agree with your agreement, Maryz. 🙂
Brilliant! Like OPRAH (remember her?) used to say… Do What You Love! I think it’s the perfect job!
O-PRAH…? oh yeah! she used to have that show, right? or had a book club or something? 😉
That’s an actual job. There are several companies in China that you pay to have one of their employees level your WoW character alone.
i’ve heard of gold-farming, NeoD, and that sounds like a horrendous job! i’d rather do the strategy guide/babysitting/level-conquering thing. 🙂
I end up having to help my sister a lot even when she doesn’t want it. I have a friend or two that generally help me when I’m stuck. I guess I’m in the middle of it all then.
Also, may I ask when the valentines day cards were last sent out in the mail? The reason being is I still haven’t recieved mine and I’m starting to get anxious since VD is only two days away.
Ok, the card got here today. Looks even greater than it did online. Thank’s Jeff! Now I’ll just be anxious for a compleatly different reason since VD is tomorrow. Hopefully all will go well!
*AAACK!* almost had a heart attack hearing that you hadn’t gotten your BOTpackage delivered yet since i sent out all the valentine’s day orders as soon as they came in, GB! looking at the tracking info, it appears that it got stuck in a certain post office for 3 days during its journey before moving on. anyway, sorry for the delay but happy to hear you got it in time! (and glad you dig it!) all the BOTcards have been doused with 8-bit hearts, so whomever you give it to should be enchanted. let us know how it goes. 🙂
I see, so it was some random post office that slowed it down. Maybe Link was just stuck in a dungeon or something, who knows. Thanks for the information though!
Hopefully my low health beeping sound will go away, and not because the game over screen has started.
I’m at full health and capable of using the sword beam! For once, everything worked out just like I hoped it would. 😀
WOOHOO!!! happy to hear you’re now at full hearts and everything worked out, GB! very, very cool. 😀
I must thank you for the artwork on the card (and the card in general). She really liked it and even put it up on her dresser! We’re both big Zelda fans, so it just fit with us so well! 😀
Am Xbox au pair. A Nintendo Manny. A Playstation Playmate.
Someone who can tutor my kids in the fine art of Temple Runner which, alas, has passed me by.
I’m in–what’s your hourly?
ha! now i gotta think about my rate, Sarah W! but no worries – i’ll charge less for smartphone/handheld games. (and BOTreaders, of course!) 😉
and i’ve been playing a bit of Temple Run 2 and am having fun with it. i just wish it had an end goal! those endless games are an exercise in frustration when i start getting good at ’em.
I can generally work out what needs to be done in whatever game I’m playing at the time, with the help of online walkthroughs when I get really stuck. That being said, I used to shove the GameBoy Color at my brother when playing Zelda: Oracle of Time, when it was those stupid walk-a-perfect-pattern-on-the-floor rooms. Those drove me absolutely bananas.
those online FAQs/Walkthoughs come in really handy at times, T. and those Zelda: Oracle games were awesome (i think i had Seasons.) actually, a lot of those handheld Zelda games were good. been thinking about playing through Minish Cap again now that i have it on my 3DS.
As of now, the only one I help out on video games is my fiancee. She mostly goes for RPGs, some puzzle games, and DDR, but every now and then she gets into a jam the requires crazy platforming or something out of her normal skillset. Back when I was in middle school, I was called up a bit for a few months by a friend who needed help beating Chrono Trigger. The constant calls drove my mom crazy. She thought it was no longer going to be an issue after my friend beat the game, but the week after my brother’s friend called me up for the same help. I was using a strategy guide at the time, but back then Game Genies were common and it was not seen as bad as it is today.
Chrono Trigger = AWESOMENESS, MacDiver. so tempted to get it on my iPhone, but i hear the DS version (which i have but never opened) is better. better than even the Playstation original! if i end up playing it again, i can call you if i get stuck, right??? 😉
Omg. Cynthia. My first runthrough of Diamond. My Pokemon were slightly under leveled and she beat me like ten times with that stupid Milotic. I had to give it to someone else or I would have chucked my ds at a wall. He beat her the first go but ugh I was so frustrated.
Usually I just walk away for a little while and go back. But not too long or you’ll forget how to play the game and then you’re screwed.
But usually I just walk away from the game for a while. That doesn’t work all the time because if you wait too l
Need to stop posting from my phone. Messes up my comments. :/
i have the same issue, Dj, and i keep running into it: i’ll step away from a game for a while (especially RPGs) and then have NO IDEA what i’m doing when i come back to it. i think that’s why i’m hesitant to pick up Poké:White again – i don’t even remember what i was doing the last time i played. pretty sure the Celestial Tower was the last thing i did. hmmm…
…if becomes a thing…I have found a awesome summer job.
if it does become a thing, let us know how it goes, GG11!
I used to play a lot of video games. It got to be an addiction. Back then I could beat a video game in a few days to a week. I’m no longer addicted to video games but I’d still enjoy them if I could squeeze them in between the shifts of my two jobs.
i’m much less addicted to video games now, too, Rainey. i actually feel guilty if i play them for too long, now, where as i could play them ALL DAY LONG as a kid and only feel joy. 🙂
Hey jef! Long time no type~ If you don’t remember me though that’s okay. I’m glad to see you’re still doing well with the comic. Sorry about the job loss, but you’re a talented and smart guy, you’ll find something new soon!
I don’t normally ask anyone for help when it comes to games. If I have a problem I check a walk through or watch a Let’s Play. Another super fun option is to stream the game and have my friends watch me play. Them giving feed-back (helpful or trolling) and enjoying the shared experience is highly entertaining. I’ve never been asked to complete a level for anyone else, more like “I’m stick here, what did you do to get past it?” or sometimes “What path do you recommend I take?”
Foxmouse! of course i remember you. glad you’re back! and thanks for the positive words. 🙂
and yes – those walkthroughs and FAQs come in extremely handy these days. i remember when all that was available was Nintendo help lines and schoolyard tip-trading.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY BOTIVERSE!!!!
Happy valentines day to you pixie.
Happy valentines day!
Happy valentines day(little late but lots of love!) !
happy (post) valentine’s day, Pixie! hope you had a romantic one. 🙂
Being in a none gaming family its usually up to me alone
makes sense.