One of Swords Podcast 004: So Damn Hollywood

by Dan on February 18, 2010

A surprising truth: Customer support is staffed with human beings! I arranged a tweet-up with Activision’s social media support team ATVI_Randolph, ATVI_Bernard, and ATVI_Amber to find out why they’re stalking you on Twitter, what moments of abuse have scarred them for life, and how to get on their good side. Plus, Randolph drops the first use of the word “a-hole” in our otherwise squeaky-clean show. You heard it here first, even though you’ve probably heard it plenty of times before.

Hugh Sterbakov co-hosts as we tackle the earth-shattering GOG release of Interstate ’76, the last word on last week’s layoffs, the dubious contents of the podcast prize packs, and Hugh’s response to the accusation that he is “too Hollywood” — turns out it’s an endearing story about pooping. Bring your hard hat: Extreme name-dropping ahead!

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Co-host: Hugh Sterbakov, screenwriter, comic creator, and Emmy-nominated writer/toy wrangler for Robot Chicken
Special guests: ATVI_Randolph, ATVI_Bernard, and ATVI_Amber of Activision Customer Support
Soundtrack: Yameen – available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and all online music stores

Relevant show links:

The Interstate ’76 Arsenal on GoG.com
The Twitter feeds of ATVI_Randolph, ATVI_Bernard, and ATVI_Amber
ActivisionAssist on Facebook
Now available at Good Old Games: Interstate ’76 Arsenal
The regular ol’ Activision Support webpage
Kotaku’s coverage of The Customer Support Pie Incident
GOG.com now selling Interstate ’76
The DICE Summit, at which Bobby Kotick gives a keynote about creativity

And last but not least, Hugh’s gamercard:


  • http://twitter.com/litrock Matt

    This one was actually really hilarious, Dan. I wasn't entirely sold on Hugh after episode 1, but apparently all the jitters are gone, because this one was on fire. Loved the show, maybe the best yet.

  • JalenJade

    Amber's completely right, the worst person online be it twitter or e-mail or chat, can never compare to the worst person on the phone.

    I work in tech support in the healthcare industry. All of our callers are supposed to be internal (read: other employees.) When I started this job I thought that would take the nightmare out of customer service, I was wrong, very very wrong. There are still callers that treat us like lesser life-forms over the phone. Recently we started promoting that we can support via email, and its so much easier to just answer e-mails than to talk to someone on the phone, even though it’s the same questions. I've never been brought to tears by an e-mail…

  • Tyler Moulder

    Hey, me and my PS2 game could totally kick the crap outta Hugh and his gun-in-a-knife-fight!

    Also, this was an absolutely hilarious episode. Much love. <3

  • BrayG

    This show had me rolling. I was sold on Kat being the co-host, but Hugh changed my mind. He was much funnier this time. I did like the banter between you and Kat though. It was a nice change of pace to hear from a woman's point of view. Keep up the great work, Dan.

  • pedgarcia

    Congratulations for this podcast! I believe you've really nailed it adding the interview with the Customer Care folks. This has gave the tone on what your podcast should be. I hope you can add more interesting interview with people that work at Activision, and maybe you should consider the lawyer or the PR guys :) . About the co-host, I believe you've already fired Hugh after he's mock on you about PS2 games giveaway :). That was really funny.

    BTW, you could post a photo of one of these “fun packs” you're giving away.

  • TURbo

    That shitting story by Hugh really humanized him.

  • 1991isOK

    Hugh don't feel bad. Not only is Luna Lovegood hot, she's legal. Added bonus: A simple google image search will provide all the proof you need that she is all woman. Good day sir.

  • Whiskey Tan9o

    This weeks show was so hilarious. Hugh's shitting story was stupid funny. Kat is a fantastic co-host for the show, but Hugh really brings a great taste of dry and dark humor to the show if you know what I mean. ;-)

    Keep up the outstanding work on the podcast, Dan! I'm looking to next weeks show and hoping to win myself one of your oh-so-famous Activision prize packs with some PS2 games! *LOL*

  • Defending Poor Tyler

    Hugh ripping on you about how crappy the giveaways are was hilarious! This was the first time I actually laughed out loud on your podcast. Dan, you realize we now expect all of your prize packs to include a PS2 version of a game that came out over a year ago. Weak! It's ok though, I don't care about prize packs. The other random things you mentioned like the Wolverine foam claws sound cooler and more “insider activision” stuff then the games anyway.

  • Defending Poor Tyler

    Hey Hugh, did you drop any names while you were dropping a deuce in Sarah Michelle Gellar's room? It sounds like it lasted as least 30 minutes, so at your rate of 1 per minute, that's 30 names while talking to yourself between flushes. If you can make it through every episode without a name drop, you'll get my vote.

  • Hugh

    Way back when the world was a good place, there was a guy who could talk faster than the Flash, and he did FedEx commercials. I channeled this guy during the poop and dropped over 5,000 celebrity names during that eleven minute poop. In fact, I only finished pooping when I ran out of names after Clara Peller. And I don't need your vote, I'm losing just fine without you.

  • Hugh

    Wait, now you're just “Tyler” Moulder?

    What's going on here???

  • Hugh

    That's how I won my wife over.

  • Hugh

    Um… I'm not gonna do that search. I'll just trust you on that count. kthanxbai?

  • http://oneofswords.com Dan
  • Anonymous

    OMG Hugh, I'm so there. The poo story did it. You're OK in my book.

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