In da club

When I was configuring my PS2 network adapter, I opted in to be considered for beta tests of new games. I haven't participated in any of those yet, but soon afterward I got an email from Sony inviting me to join their "Gamer Advisory Panel," a sort of ridiculous, but pretty much innocuous, thing on the Playstation website with message boards and surveys, ostensibly for 'elite gamers' but most likely for anyone who has given Sony their email address. It's a great thing to be a member of if you want to express your unwavering admiration of Sony Computer Entertainment. If you're a regular-type person, it's laughable PR with embarrassingly positive responses from devoted fanboys. Oh, and I got a free copy of the Official Playstation Magazine (including demo disc!); of course I already have a free subscription (you can too!), but Sony's effort is appreciated, since my subscription hasn't kicked in yet.

The emails I get from them are pretty dire, and always good for a laugh-- they love to overstate their importance and mine. Today I found out that they use the same tactic in physical mail too. I had to share this with you guys: my Official Membership Kit! Now you too can be (close to someone who is) Gaming Elite!

Here's the envelope I got. It's about a foot long and foil-embossed.


Inside is a letter congratulating me, stating that "this is the highest honor you can receive from PlayStation(TM)-- and we're thrilled to bring you into the fold."

(I had a hard time picking a section to quote. This thing is awesomely bad.)

In addition, I got this certificate:

which I will NO DOUBT frame and display proudly. I like the shiny Playstation logo in the corner.

Finally, the absolute best thing in here: my membership card(s!)
Front:


Back:

On top is your normal club membership card thing, which is a little nicer looking than my Capcom Fighter's Edge card, I guess. But the most magically dumb-shit-tastic thing in the whole package is on the bottom of this plastic sheet: a keychain card!
With my membership number on the back! I am curious as to the utility of this object: is there some top-secret Playstation grocery store? Do I flash this at EB in order to be treated like a human being? Anyway, it'll go great with my PSM "Extreme Playstation Loyalist" shirt, or it would, if I ever wore it, which I never ever have or will.

I have a new theory about the Playstation 3 price now: they have to recoup losses from sending out membership cards to the Gaming Elite.