Hello everyone, I just stumbled upon this site this evening while searching for information about Timewalk Games.  Seems they've shut their doors from what I gather here - that's sad news.  Anyways, this looks like an interesting place to connect and keep informed.
    A long, long time ago, in the late 80s, when I was in my late 20s, I worked as a Nintendo Gameplay Counselor for about two years and then later became an electronics repair technician in their service department.  We were based at Nintendo's American headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Lots of good memories from then.  I've been playing video games ever since and now I'm also an avid collector.
   Today I work at Boeing as an electrician on the 787 Dreamliner - the pay is alot better which allows me to continue with my collecting OCD while also saving towards retirement.  Looking forward to that day when I'll have time to travel and what else... play more games of course!

Welcome to the site! It's pretty cool to have another former Nintendo employee around on the site, the Gamemaster Howard Phillips visits from time to time as well.

Welcome. As a collector and former employee were you able to obtain or retain some nice things from your time their?

welcome to the site!

Thanks for the welcome!  I remember Howard.  I once asked him a question about RC Pro Am Racing so I could answer a caller's question.  Wow, that was a long time ago.

Hey there, thanks for the welcome!
No, unfortunately I don't really have anything tangible from my years  with Nintendo - just alot of good memories.  Back then none of us really thought about collecting anything; it was all about the gameplay.  I do remember being selected to tour the country as technical support during the Nintendo World Championships; but something came up and I didn't get to go.  It was only many years afterwards that I began collecting.  If I'd only known then what I know now...

Another GPC toured the country with the NWC and ended up with a grey cartridge he had listed on ebay last week could have been you too bad you missed out

Wow, you look like a collector too - thanks for the welcome!

Yes, believe me I've thought about that.  Those things are going for alot of loot.

Ouch. Coulda shoulda woulda. Welcome to the site though!

Oh yeah, and don't I know it!  I could be retired right now. Thank-you for the welcome!

Welcome! You probably helped some of us on the counselor line in the late 80's hehe

Yeah, it's funny when I see someone in their 30s, I sometimes wonder if perhaps I had spoken to them when they were a little kid and helped them along with their game. Maybe I spoke with you!!!  Thanks for welcoming me!

Welcome to the site! Awesome, so you were a Nintendo repair technician? I love researching and collecting items from the World Class Service Centers, did you ever meet the director of all the centers?

Welcome! I use to call the gameplay line all the time before they changed it to a 900 number. I was always amazed how you guys could know what I was talking about from my terrible descriptions when I was stuck in an RPG dungeon.

Welcome!! I called that number a bunch of times as a kid,Yeah when the phone bill came around I was no where to be seen LoL

Maybe you spoke with me... I called many times. The only phone call I remember specifically was explaining to the counselor a trick I had figured out in Blaster Master, how to do the door warp. I might have been the only person on the planet who knew how to do it back then for all I know, but he sounded very disinterested. I remember the response was something like, "yeah, that game's hot." He was happy to keep me on the phone though. (Chuckle.)

The door warp is now a common speedrunner trick... haha

Welcome to the site man.

Welcome! It's awesome to have someone like you on this site.

Can you do a play by play of the most moronic person you had to deal with on the phone? That would be hilarious.

That's awesome and welcome. Did you ever have a GPC profile in Nintendo Power? I have questions about those.

welcome aboard .....

Welcome!

Hi there! I didn't work at any of the kiosks in the malls or elsewhere.  We were based right in the main bldg of Nintendo of America headquarters in Redmond.  We were on the first floor in an area about the size of a basketball court.  Directly above us were the game counselors, customer reps, reaserch and development, Howard Phillips and all the rest. I believe most of the NES repairs went thru us.  I do remember that our team lead later became a trainer for the personnel  at the kiosks.    Thanks for welcoming me!

Hey there, thanks for welcoming me!  Most of us knew the popular games inside and out so usually we were able to figure out where somebody was stuck.  Also, if we hadn't played a particular game we often transferred calls to other GPCs who had.  Wow, this takes me back!

Ha! That's funny.  The game tip line was mostly free when I was there.  Shortly before I left for the service department they switched over to the 900 number.  Hopefully I wasn't a party to your bill!  Thanks for the welcome!