While rummaging through boxes of mementos at home, I found this quite special edition of "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit" I had received in 2010 while working at EA Madrid as a Certification tester.
So here's a funny story...
So here's a funny story...
This copy of the game was a special edition that contained a few exclusive cars and other small perks. Also, it had a flap cover with a dedication and signature by the CEO of EA at the time, @johnriccitiello.
The gift was announced by an email from John to ALL of EA's employees as a Christmas gift for the launch of the game, so naturally everyone was looking forward to it SO much.
The day arrives, and the first people rush downstairs to reception to pick up their copy. But...
The day arrives, and the first people rush downstairs to reception to pick up their copy. But...
... we soon found out that it was only for permanent staff 😣
EA Madrid was full of temporary testers, and I was one of them (even though I ended up staying there a whole 1,5 years, and I left myself). Imagine the disappointment!
EA Madrid was full of temporary testers, and I was one of them (even though I ended up staying there a whole 1,5 years, and I left myself). Imagine the disappointment!
In the afternoon, we found out this one Polish tester from downstairs in Localisation Testing - Kamil - had replied to John's email in disappointment saying: "Hey John, I worked on the game and I'm in the credits, it would be so nice to get a copy of the game."
He thought he was replying to somebody from HR in Madrid (the surname sounded Spanish to him!) while he had written to the CEO in Redwood City in the US! 🤣
We started teasing him. We were saying he was going to get fired, and other silly things.
We started teasing him. We were saying he was going to get fired, and other silly things.
(I had even photoshopped his face on Wallace's last scene in Braveheart with him on the torture cross screaming "Need for Speeeeeed!!")
After 2 days, John replies something along the lines of:
"Thanks for the suggestion, Kamil, it makes sense. I'll speak with your line manager and investigate whether you can all get a copy."
We were all like 😮
After a few days, every employee got a copy of NFS, temps included!!
"Thanks for the suggestion, Kamil, it makes sense. I'll speak with your line manager and investigate whether you can all get a copy."
We were all like 😮
After a few days, every employee got a copy of NFS, temps included!!
And that's why as soon as I got mine, I rushed downstairs to get my copy signed by Kamil.
I still refer to him to Kamil "the hero" Kurpios.
I still refer to him to Kamil "the hero" Kurpios.
(A bit annoyed at the wording of the dedication... "best Italian friend"? Seriously??)
All in all, a funny memory, and I got an amazing game. Testing "NFS: Hot Pursuit" is actually one of my fondest memories of those two years.
Final fun fact: John is again CEO of the company I work for!
And no, he didn't plug me into Unity... (or vice versa)
And no, he didn't plug me into Unity... (or vice versa)
