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- 10 Dec 2008
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Time for a true story .. are you sitting comfortably?
I went to a completely free event put on by Microsoft where basically they got a full orchestra (120 odd professional musicians) to play classical versions of famous computer game music (from old skool to modern stuff). It was a concert -- playing versions of famous computer game music. It was in a concert hall. They also provided free refreshments and had video from the game displayed on a cinema screen behind the orchestra.
Nerdy? Yep. But for me, It was 100% awesome. A really, really good free night out. Oh, they also gave away a load of 360s basically at random (host says 'which game was that from then?' and gives an xbox to some kid that shouted the answer). I'd have expected and been happy to pay £50 TBH, but Microsoft copped the whole darn bill. They didn't plug Microsoft -- there was no advertising apart from during the break they let anyone that fancied it mess around on loads of XBOX 360s they'd set up, and the very last song they played was the Halo 3 music. And thats it. Apparently it was a 'gift back to the community'. The music was all formats ..NOT just 360.
So, all totally free. All awesome (if it sounds cr&p - fair enough -- you had to be there and be a nerd to love it!). At the very end everyone crazy cheering the classical musicians as they slammed through the final fantasy music then finished Halo 3.
Then a single microsoft representative came on just to say basically thanks for coming, hope you enjoyed it. Still no Microsoft plug. Just the normal Microsoft bloke who had spent his time persuading Microsoft to part with the cash, and a long time organising the whole gig (including getting permissions from software publishers etc) on. Proper hard work I reckon.
So, he wanders on stage and is announced as 'Microsoft guy'. Then all the geeks, basically about 90% of the crowd the moment they hear he is a Microsoft Rep start booing and hissing, and being pretty darn nasty. It was loud and seriously unnerving to the guy. They were, by the volume of booing etc., physically not letting the guy speak -- JUST 100% because they heard he is Microsoft. Some of the braver ones screaming abuse including swearing at the bloke (while laughing and enjoying it). I've never experienced 'excited, mob hatred' like it. Microsoft guy didn't even say a word and they just went 100% HATRED at him. At a 'provided by Microsoft' free awesome gig.
After about 3 minutes of trying to speak he just gave up and left the stage, and the crowd of nerds stomped out really, really happy like some kind of totally proud class of retards who've finally made the supply teacher cry. It made me sick to my stomach and I felt totally embarrassed by the whole event .. especially as I (and the whole crowd) had really, honestly had an awesome free time. The event probably won't happen again ever now I dunno.
Anyway I'm in heated debate with my friend who I went with .. he says Microsoft-guy deserved it totally because Vista was so useless and Microsoft are ****ers. He loved the fact it happened and the guy who didn't get to say a word was totally humiliated. It was the highlight of his night. He laughs when thinking about it.
So for me and my mates argument you be the jury .. in your book .. was the crowds behaviour acceptable, even funny? Or unacceptable?
I went to a completely free event put on by Microsoft where basically they got a full orchestra (120 odd professional musicians) to play classical versions of famous computer game music (from old skool to modern stuff). It was a concert -- playing versions of famous computer game music. It was in a concert hall. They also provided free refreshments and had video from the game displayed on a cinema screen behind the orchestra.
Nerdy? Yep. But for me, It was 100% awesome. A really, really good free night out. Oh, they also gave away a load of 360s basically at random (host says 'which game was that from then?' and gives an xbox to some kid that shouted the answer). I'd have expected and been happy to pay £50 TBH, but Microsoft copped the whole darn bill. They didn't plug Microsoft -- there was no advertising apart from during the break they let anyone that fancied it mess around on loads of XBOX 360s they'd set up, and the very last song they played was the Halo 3 music. And thats it. Apparently it was a 'gift back to the community'. The music was all formats ..NOT just 360.
So, all totally free. All awesome (if it sounds cr&p - fair enough -- you had to be there and be a nerd to love it!). At the very end everyone crazy cheering the classical musicians as they slammed through the final fantasy music then finished Halo 3.
Then a single microsoft representative came on just to say basically thanks for coming, hope you enjoyed it. Still no Microsoft plug. Just the normal Microsoft bloke who had spent his time persuading Microsoft to part with the cash, and a long time organising the whole gig (including getting permissions from software publishers etc) on. Proper hard work I reckon.
So, he wanders on stage and is announced as 'Microsoft guy'. Then all the geeks, basically about 90% of the crowd the moment they hear he is a Microsoft Rep start booing and hissing, and being pretty darn nasty. It was loud and seriously unnerving to the guy. They were, by the volume of booing etc., physically not letting the guy speak -- JUST 100% because they heard he is Microsoft. Some of the braver ones screaming abuse including swearing at the bloke (while laughing and enjoying it). I've never experienced 'excited, mob hatred' like it. Microsoft guy didn't even say a word and they just went 100% HATRED at him. At a 'provided by Microsoft' free awesome gig.
After about 3 minutes of trying to speak he just gave up and left the stage, and the crowd of nerds stomped out really, really happy like some kind of totally proud class of retards who've finally made the supply teacher cry. It made me sick to my stomach and I felt totally embarrassed by the whole event .. especially as I (and the whole crowd) had really, honestly had an awesome free time. The event probably won't happen again ever now I dunno.
Anyway I'm in heated debate with my friend who I went with .. he says Microsoft-guy deserved it totally because Vista was so useless and Microsoft are ****ers. He loved the fact it happened and the guy who didn't get to say a word was totally humiliated. It was the highlight of his night. He laughs when thinking about it.
So for me and my mates argument you be the jury .. in your book .. was the crowds behaviour acceptable, even funny? Or unacceptable?
