This was a Sony survey, sent out to PlayStation Underground members. It was one of those really obnoxious types, where you have this huge list of possible marketing avenues and you have to declare which ones would likely first alert you to a game's existence, then which would first provide further info about a game, then which ones you would personally turn to for more information about a game, and then which ones you would look to when actually purchasing a game. Nuts. It went on forever, but now I'm registered to win three free PS3 games, so there you are.

Anyway, here's the highlights:

Oh yes, Sony. No matter how much. I'm sure Sony would dearly love to sneak $70 in as the new PS3 game price point.

Note the question below that one and my response.

The reliability of game store staff came up a dozen times. I gave them low marks every time.

I thought this was a rather interesting question. Basically, it's asking you to list some personal system-selling games. Although I didn't really have any specific games in mind when I bought my GameCube or my Wii, I did very pointedly buy those four systems listed for particular games.

Of course, I bought my PS3 back when we all thought GTA IV was coming out in October, ha ha.

After trying out the Pokemon card game, I wanted Pokemon Yellow. Until that purchase, I only had two super-old classic Game Boys and an unused Game Boy Pocket... so Pokemon truly did bring me back into the Nintendo fold. Naturally, I got the Game Boy Yellow bundle, with the sweet Pokemon-themed GBC.

Shortly thereafter, I wanted a big-screen Pokemon game, so off we went for the N64. Got the Ocarina of Time bundle at Sam's Club and drove across the street to EB for a copy of Snap. As soon as they release Snap to the VC, I'm going to gift it to everyone I know.*

*Not really.

Perhaps the most surprising one is the last one. I did not have a PS1 until I watched some college pals playing an NHL game on it, of all things. I'm going to place that seminal event in the fall of 1997, I think. The PS1 was bought in early 1998. Before that, I had an old Genesis and, get this, I was one of those guys who thought that PC games were the shiz-nit and consoles were for kiddies! Hilarious! We all go through those phases, don't we.

Hopefully the survey was so long and obnoxious (it was) that I'll stand a good chance of winning the free PS3 games... but then again I'm sure the free games will be Madden 07, Madden 08 and Madden 09.