Visit to to the Game Store

[Daedalus]

Yeah, I think many stores have gone the same way in recent years... I worked in Maplin Electronics for a few years and while I was there we generally tried to have a lot of time for the customers, and it was enjoyable. Now, if I go in there and ask for a part, some very bored and very disinterested guy shoves a catalogue at me, grunts and walks off. It's exactly that, paying fewer people less in order to maximise margins. Shame really, but that's capitalism for you...

[Daedalus]

'Irresponsible' capitalism. There's a big difference. Without capitalism, there wouldn't be the innovation and diversity in products and quality throughout that we once had. But yes, politics and greed are in full swing during these mediocre consumerism times. These days, companies want to make money hand over fist for doing nothing or next to nothing. Crummy attitude to have about business and your customers - but there it is.

Sorry, yes, I did mean the irresponsible kind... Since I have now worked in R&D for several years I can see first-hand what is involved, and how it's changed in recent times. Even in the past 5 years it's gone to a state of only developing subtle design changes which are mainly aimed at reducing costs. Innovation has moved further into the back seat and we spend most of our time trying to remove components from PCBs and shorten cables without anyone noticing...