I Need Assistance
Our U Wink screen:
Yes, we went back to UWink at the urging of Isa and her friend. This time we brought Tomi, whose gorgeousness and single status would bring good fortune to our table. I posted earlier about a prior visit and subsequent UWink investor's comments. The investor commented on the fact the ladies having fun would bring me out of my negative funk to have fun as well.
Ok! This time I was going to have fun.
I tried to tell the waiter that we'd been there before, but Tomi objected; not knowing the 'training' to use the computer would take a solid twenty minutes. Three minutes in she realized she made a mistake, but there was no stopping the waiter at this point. "See where the picture of the drink is? Okay, so if you want a drink you press on that. You want a cocktail? Okay, then we need to press where it says "Cocktails." And on. And on. "I was a computer programmer for years, " I protested. "Plus, anyone who has ever waitressed since the 90's is going to know how to use a touch-screen ordering system."
The waiter looked hurt.
The kids had already ordered while we were receiving our training.
Finally I could order my drink. We noticed a man under the table next to us, arms filled with wires: a repairman. There was also a raucous crowd in the back, drinking beers and yelling out answers.
We found out very quickly that they had changed the system. They now give "credits" for food purchased that go toward the games, which aren't free anymore. I thought to myself, well, that's understandable, you can't have people nursing a coke and playing How To Be a Millionaire all day can you?
Isa and her friend ran out of credits within five minutes.
Tomi helpfully swiped her card to buy them ten dollars worth of credits, and six minutes later they were begging again for more. They were also asking to shop at the 'virtual store' for stuffed animals and other items like pink digital cameras. Tomi and I went over to their (greasy) screens to investigate their desperation. Turns out they weren't playing just games, but they were playing games to win prizes (such as the aforementioned cheap made-you-know-where crap) and these games took a lot more credits to play.
At that point, we heard a loud pop and our screens went dark. A collective groan emanated from the party in the back. Other tables were still happily poking away at the screens. "Maybe the computer has lost our order and we'll get a free meal," I thought, and the server moved us to a new table. Within a few swipes, Tomi's name and yes, our tab were waiting for us.
We let the kids each get a stuffed animal and one outfit, because in ten minutes there was going to be a restaurant-wide trivia game, and Tomi and I were feeling like a good team. Also, I knew that buying the bears was going to be a lot cheaper than the kids trying to win them. (I can say this because I consider myself to be excellent at both Chuzzle and Bejeweled I and II and there were games similar to that and I couldn't even get close to winning a keychain.)
In the meanwhile, our food came, and we weren't the best at not duplicating orders, so I requested assistance.
"Sarah" won the trivia game. We knew this because it was blasted on the giant screen. "Who is Sarah?" Tomi and I yelled, and right behind us a mousy woman with long brown hair and glasses cheerfully raised her coke to us.
We got more credits and were determined to beat Sarah.
She won the next game and the next. How did she know so much about sports? All the other players were pretty drunk so they were easy to beat. But Sarah, sitting there drinking coke and nibbling on a fry, was not going to waver. Tomi and I decided to come back again, without the kids, and win the trivia contest.
We got the bill.
$270.
Yes, we went back to UWink at the urging of Isa and her friend. This time we brought Tomi, whose gorgeousness and single status would bring good fortune to our table. I posted earlier about a prior visit and subsequent UWink investor's comments. The investor commented on the fact the ladies having fun would bring me out of my negative funk to have fun as well.
Ok! This time I was going to have fun.
I tried to tell the waiter that we'd been there before, but Tomi objected; not knowing the 'training' to use the computer would take a solid twenty minutes. Three minutes in she realized she made a mistake, but there was no stopping the waiter at this point. "See where the picture of the drink is? Okay, so if you want a drink you press on that. You want a cocktail? Okay, then we need to press where it says "Cocktails." And on. And on. "I was a computer programmer for years, " I protested. "Plus, anyone who has ever waitressed since the 90's is going to know how to use a touch-screen ordering system."
The waiter looked hurt.
The kids had already ordered while we were receiving our training.
Finally I could order my drink. We noticed a man under the table next to us, arms filled with wires: a repairman. There was also a raucous crowd in the back, drinking beers and yelling out answers.
We found out very quickly that they had changed the system. They now give "credits" for food purchased that go toward the games, which aren't free anymore. I thought to myself, well, that's understandable, you can't have people nursing a coke and playing How To Be a Millionaire all day can you?
Isa and her friend ran out of credits within five minutes.
Tomi helpfully swiped her card to buy them ten dollars worth of credits, and six minutes later they were begging again for more. They were also asking to shop at the 'virtual store' for stuffed animals and other items like pink digital cameras. Tomi and I went over to their (greasy) screens to investigate their desperation. Turns out they weren't playing just games, but they were playing games to win prizes (such as the aforementioned cheap made-you-know-where crap) and these games took a lot more credits to play.
At that point, we heard a loud pop and our screens went dark. A collective groan emanated from the party in the back. Other tables were still happily poking away at the screens. "Maybe the computer has lost our order and we'll get a free meal," I thought, and the server moved us to a new table. Within a few swipes, Tomi's name and yes, our tab were waiting for us.
We let the kids each get a stuffed animal and one outfit, because in ten minutes there was going to be a restaurant-wide trivia game, and Tomi and I were feeling like a good team. Also, I knew that buying the bears was going to be a lot cheaper than the kids trying to win them. (I can say this because I consider myself to be excellent at both Chuzzle and Bejeweled I and II and there were games similar to that and I couldn't even get close to winning a keychain.)
In the meanwhile, our food came, and we weren't the best at not duplicating orders, so I requested assistance.
"Sarah" won the trivia game. We knew this because it was blasted on the giant screen. "Who is Sarah?" Tomi and I yelled, and right behind us a mousy woman with long brown hair and glasses cheerfully raised her coke to us.
We got more credits and were determined to beat Sarah.
She won the next game and the next. How did she know so much about sports? All the other players were pretty drunk so they were easy to beat. But Sarah, sitting there drinking coke and nibbling on a fry, was not going to waver. Tomi and I decided to come back again, without the kids, and win the trivia contest.
We got the bill.
$270.
Labels: Atari, Isa, U Wink, unsolicited criticism
posted by Bernie at
10:46 AM
18 Comments:
You're just lucky that Amy and Mike weren't at the next table.
That sounds hideous!!!! Thank you so much for warning me away from this atrocious, horrible-sounding place! UWink investors: I am never ever going to your restaurant and I will tell all my friends to avoid UWink!
If people who don't like UWink are willing to drop $270, imagine how much the people who do like it will be willing to spend! I say buy!
Bullish, I wouldn't exactly classify myself as 'willing' to drop $270 for a meatball sandwich and a stuffed bear wearing a wedding dress. I feel fleeced-- I'm pretty sure that's not a good business model to make a customer feel that way.
that's right, and don't even bother to respond unless you change your handle to "sheepish investor."
I honestly can't stand the name, uWink. It's so sharp and grating to the ear. Say it right now, and you will see how you can't utter it without sounding annoying.
It's enough that we've been bombarded with all things "i"... iPod, iPhone, iLife, iFart. The attempt to slightly adjust it by taking it from the first person (a more natural and comfortable place for us self centered Americans) to the broader based third person is weak. I may have made this point in a previous post about this place, but dammit Bernie if you haven't stirred me once again. No more!! Do not go to this place that bullish investor longs for you to go to. Resist!
I think Bullish Investor wasn't really a bullish investor. I think he was a Sarcastic Bullish Investor.
Chris, where do I buy the iFart?
On iButt.
Hello All,
I occasionally perform searches on 'uWink' as an "independent market research tool" (as 'Chris' mentioned in a comment on the previous uWink post...more on this below). I did not realize that 'Bernie' had seen my post on the uWink investment board and commented on it until today, when I found this new post on uWink. I will try to address the various comments I've seen related to these two posts.
@Bernie
I assume partial sarcasm in your response to my post. I was trying to make a point that I still believe is valid:
two people can go to uWink. one loves it, one hates it. as long as the one who loves it is an evangelist and realizes he/she (especially 'she') will have fun with more people, uWink will work.
At the time, I may have assumed you were a male blogger. I apologize for this (though it doesn't change my point). I appreciate that you have been sharing your opinion on uWink. I don't live in California and have not visited the restaurant yet, though I have close friends who have.
And yes, you most definitely have played far more Atari than I. I was not born until after the Atari VCS was released :P
@ Chris
I sense much stronger sarcasm from your comments (though I am not particularly good at picking up on sarcasm). I'd like to say that most people thought 'Wii' was an absolutely terrible name for Nintendo's new console. Now most people love it. uWink is simple and recognizable. Even if it does not roll off the tongue, there are many, far worse names that they could have used. I like it.
I have invested in uWink for almost exactly a year now, increasing my holdings as the stock has dropped. Many on the I-Hub Board have been invested for far longer than that. uWink has existed in some shape or form since 1999-2000! Understand that I am investing in Nolan Bushnell as much as the general concept. He is a special person who simply does not give up, and has some ingenious ideas. Unfortunately, things have not been so hot recently in the prototype restaurant in Woodland Hills. My theory is that all the focus has moved towards the new locations, in Hollywood and Mountain View, California. I agree that "there needs to be something fun to do." I am confident that there are many games in the works that focus on getting people throughout the restaurant to meet each other. But you're right, they better get their act together soon.
I will have additional comments on the I-Hub Board on Bernie's recent blog post. Keep in mind that uWink has "succeeded" in proving their concept with the Woodland Hills location. They otherwise would not have received $9 million+ in funding last fall to expand. The focus is no longer on that location. It is on Hollywood and Mountain View, both of which should be open by the end of the summer.
I will gladly post follow up comments if someone responds. Thank you again for providing lively discussion on a topic that greatly interests me.
Sincerely,
uNintendo
uNintendo,
In terms of sarcasm, I can't really give you any guidance there. You have to judge for yourself, but I will point to 2 terms I included in my post that might assist you in your re-assessment: 1. iFart 2. iButt. Also do not forget that this blog is "salty" by nature, after all, it is titled SaltInWound not SugarNTummy.
However, I certainly was not being entirely sarcastic. I honestly don't care for the name uWink. It has an "oinky" pig sound to it, and is clearly taking advantage of the only remaining vowel that has not been sucked up in this i, e, u, and sometimes y craze of the interwebby age. I don't like it. But so what? Who cares what I think? Well, besides you and occasionally Jack Silbert (hey Jack, I know you don't care what I think, but I thought I'd drag you into this anyway... plus have I told you that speaking of names, I love your name?) I do. Scout's honor. No sarcasm there. Best name on the blog, hands down. Scott Buck, is my runner up. They are solid gold American names that don't bullshit around. In fact, if uWink were named Jack Silbert I would go there in a heartbeat and probably spend a lot of cash. If it were named Chris Cox, I would never go for sanitary reasons alone.
Chris, there are still two vowels to go: "a" and "o". Perhaps one day there will be an aMac and an oPod.
But why assume it has to be limited to vowels? zLife, qPod, even %Mac and *Life are excellent possibilities in the future!
I'm at a hotel on the ibahn. Just realized that's the i form of the autobahn, apparently.
Robert,
You are absolutely correct. I am going to send a letter to Steve Jobs suggesting %Mac as well as *Life.
Bernie, sich amüsieren!
I care very deeply about what Chris thinks.
If uWink does change its name to Jack Silbert, I want $5 for every meatball sandwich sold, and I would like Zaxxon and RoadBlasters added to the game consoles.
Any other thoughts on referring to the Atari 2600 as the Atari VCS? I know it was called that, but I never heard anyone say that.
Yeah, I was planted firmly in the middle of the Atari generation and never heard that VCS term either. What's it stand for? Viet Cong Soldiers? Very Creamy Sandwich? It's anyone's guess. I was more of a ColecoVision guy anyway.
Video Console System I believe. It was renamed the 2600 at some point.
Yes, Atari VCS = Atari 2600
I believe I started referring to it as 'VCS' after reading this excellent article on the early years of Atari:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2000/the_history_of_atari_19711977.php
I recommend printing it. Long, but well worth the read.
-uNintendo
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