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How do you guys handle hardware launch day anxiety?

A

Agent Icebeezy

Welcome beautful toddler, Madison Elizabeth, to the horde!
The Xbox 360 represents the first launch I've really prepared for. I'd wager I'll walk out of the store more than 90% of the games that day. Test Drive and NBA Live are the no gos, I presume. Well, to back up and revisit the ghost of launch past. I could've done the same thing for the Gamecube, the only console I bought first day last generation. I got Super Monkey Ball, Wave Race and Rogue Leader. I was first to walk out of the store with a GC at that store. I marveled at how small the unit actually was, in combination with the games. Noticed the same RCA cables from my Super Nintendo could be used in the GC(genius) After getting a feel for the controller, I want to see why I invested this much money in the first place. Not a Star Wars fan by any means, so I let someone else take the first spin on it with Rogue Leader. I was excited by that launch, but in retrospect, it was really piss poor in the grand scheme of things.

Fast forward to now going towards November, the first salvo of next generation gaming will be here. I'm trying to convince my wife to let me take the day off if it is on November 4th because I will be up at 12:00am to get it. I'll go thru the dashboard extensively first, to see the options. Now, on to the games. With my GC, Rogue Leader was already destined to get the first play. Now, with the myriad of hot games plus XBL consideration for the 360, I'm at a loss for what will get the first play. Ok, done with my rambling. What will you guys play first and why?
 
I say it's a hardware launch and nothing more, and I don't spend a katrillion dollars buying every shitty game.

That basically sums it up.
 
i'm not getting a x360, but for hardware launches i usually buy 1-3 GOOD launch title games (probably PGR3, Ridge Racer 6 and CoD2), then rent whatever games that look remotely interesting
 
Since I'm getting it at EB, it will be a midnight launch. Since it will be dark and I can fire up the projector, the first game I will play is COD 2. From the videos I've seen, it's going to be one epic gaming experience. Madden will be a close 2nd.
 
I have no idea what da fuck I am going to do at the moment...

To many games, no set price point, no money set to one side yet, no nothing!
 
Amir0x said:
I say it's a hardware launch and nothing more, and I don't spend a katrillion dollars buying every shitty game.

That basically sums it up.
Click to expand...

I'm the polar opposite of you. I remember Nov. 23rd 1998 like the back of my hand when Zelda came out. However, a hardware launch is much more. At least to me. As far as the games, I don't think there will be a lot of shitty games there
 
I have gotten a N64, Dreamcast (both Japanese and American), PS2, DS and PSP at launch. Dreamcast and PSP tie for best launch experience for me making me buy more than 2 games and making me feel most like a kid. PS2 was ok with SSX and Tekken Tag. I also like the Street Fighter EX series so sue me. DS was meh since I really didn't care for the controls on Mario 64 DS and N64 was a mixed bag. I loved it at first and was such a total Nintendo Fanboy for an entire year fighting my friends and trying to insist Mario was all I needed for 6 months and then I could make do with Killer Instinct.

I was always excited but I have learned in many launches that the launch games are very rarely worth it and the money spent was not worth it. If you must do it though make sure you have some friends along for the ride that are excited with you. Makes the time pass faster.
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
I'm the polar opposite of you. I remember Nov. 23rd 1998 like the back of my hand when Zelda came out. However, a hardware launch is much more. At least to me.
Click to expand...

I've been at every launch basically since console gaming began, so I'm not immune to the whole thing. It's just another day for me, though. I have some money invested in them when I participate and I hope what I get is good, but there's no anxiety associated with it. I'm excited, I pick it up, I play it and then the world moves on. Everyone forms their preferences and we argue about it on mailing lists, or on forums, or in chat rooms, or in cheap game magazines. The cycle just continues, I'm in it for the games.

This is actually the first launch period I won't be buying any of the systems at launch, though.

Agent Icebeezy said:
As far as the games, I don't think there will be a lot of shitty games there
Click to expand...

Oh, there will be plenty of shitty games. I'm sure the launch thread - which will be a great launch thread, I've totally been gathering info - will be filled with people overwhelmingly praising every mediocre product. There will also be games that people are like 'wow, so good' and then everyone forgets about it three weeks later when they realize the only quality thing about it was visuals and the gameplay actually was shitty even by 1996 standards. Even I fall for it at times!
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
As far as the games, I don't think there will be a lot of shitty games there
Click to expand...

:lol

Sorry, but 80-90% of launch titles suck. They seem hot and cool with nice graphics when they come out, but a year or two later they'll be $4.99 and laughed about. DC and PSP had the highest amount of quality launch games but still when you look back and think how many of those games were really worth getting, you'll find like 2 games maybe 3 total. Same will go for X360 launch, same will go for PS3 launch, same will go for Revolution launch. Don't kid yourself that the 20+ games you buy at launch will all be stellar titles :P
 
Bebpo said:
:lol

Sorry, but 80-90% of launch titles suck. They seem hot and cool with nice graphics when they come out, but a year or two later they'll be $4.99 and laughed about. DC and PSP had the highest amount of quality launch games but still when you look back and think how many of those games were really worth getting, you'll find like 2 games maybe 3 total. Same will go for X360 launch, same will go for PS3 launch, same will go for Revolution launch. Don't kid yourself that the 20+ games you buy at launch will all be stellar titles :P
Click to expand...

I actually think with an investment as large as Agent Icebeezy's it'll be hard for any subjective determination of what he actually enjoyed and what he didn't. At that point, when you're pre-ordering 27 games just for launch window, you pretty much force yourself into a rose colored view of the situation.

I think 360 launch will do better than DC and PSP launch, though.
 
I never thought about it that much. New hardware? Sweet. Gonna buy it with whatever suits my fancy at the moment. I might get fucked, I might not.

Roll the bones.

roll_the_bones.jpg
 
The only launched i have ever pre-pared for was the Dreamcast one. I don't think any game system will ever have a showing like Sega put out there...9-9-99 never forget.

DCX
 
I always do some weird ritual when theres a console launch. About a day before the release of a new console I move by whole room around-the tv,PC,stereo,bed,just mix it all up to spice things up for the coming up a new console.

As for the launch itself I keep things simple. I never buy more than two games,thats more than enough for me. Any more than that and I feel like I'm in over my head playing the games.

One thing I'm going to try and do this time around though-no internet. I use to enjoy console launches alot but the arrival of the internet sorta takes the fun out of it now. Inbetween all the trolls and loss of mystery in what will happen next with the industry I just flat out miss miss the old days of playing games and picking up a few mags like GameFan. For the first 2-3 weeks that the X360 is out I'm gonna try to avoid gaming related web site.

The last time I enjoyed a console launch *ALOT* was in 1996,the N64. Not surprisingly I had no internet access. I have this habbit of not follwing through and beating my games,message boards are a part of the reason why I do this,heh.
 
Two reasons I won’t buy launch hardware


1. Incase it has problems ala PS2 and Xbox I would rather wait 6 months for these issues to be addressed and have a price drop.

2. No Budget games, when the first crop of budget games roll in I am so in, that said I may get the rev at launch.
 
Bebpo said:
:lol

Sorry, but 80-90% of launch titles suck. They seem hot and cool with nice graphics when they come out, but a year or two later they'll be $4.99 and laughed about. DC and PSP had the highest amount of quality launch games but still when you look back and think how many of those games were really worth getting, you'll find like 2 games maybe 3 total. Same will go for X360 launch, same will go for PS3 launch, same will go for Revolution launch. Don't kid yourself that the 20+ games you buy at launch will all be stellar titles :P
Click to expand...

I'd have to disagree. So, Madden, PGR3, Obsidian will suck? I'm afraid not. Most of these games at the 360 launch aren't new titles or new franchises. Call of Duty 2 is going to be hot. Ghost Recon is going to be hot. Tony Hawk is finally on XBL. Quake is there. It'll be a great launch. The only games I think I'd need reservations on is Full Auto, Saint's Row and Frame City Killer. Other than that, all is well
 
I usually open them and stare at them for ,like an hour. Then I SMELL it. Best smell outside of a new magazine or game :)

But maybe thats just me.
 
Bebpo said:
:lol

Sorry, but 80-90% of launch titles suck. They seem hot and cool with nice graphics when they come out, but a year or two later they'll be $4.99 and laughed about. DC and PSP had the highest amount of quality launch games but still when you look back and think how many of those games were really worth getting, you'll find like 2 games maybe 3 total. Same will go for X360 launch, same will go for PS3 launch, same will go for Revolution launch. Don't kid yourself that the 20+ games you buy at launch will all be stellar titles :P
Click to expand...
OK, name the 80-90% of XB360 launch titles that are going to "suck." :)

We're talking Western titles here. 80-90% of the Japanese launch titles will undoubtedly suck, if not closer to 100%.
 
Forgot to add that the two games I'm buying are PGR3 and The Elder Scrolls 4:Oblivion.

Shit those will keep me busy for months:)
 
To this day, I have bought one and only one system on its actual launch date (that would be the Dreamcast on 9.9.99), so I don't really get too worked up over the launch. Wait till the holidays or birthdays or some other such event. You avoid that rough first batch of units and let somebody else take care of hunting all over hell and creation for something sold out in every store. That's what I say.
 
anxiety?

i just walk up to the store... get my system and go home

the only system i ever waited in line for... was the gamecube... i went to the store 10 mins before it opened and saw a big line with people holding tickets for which color they wanted... alot of people had black so just to be different i got indigo *shakes head*

anyway this was like a eletronics square and since most buildings were selling gamecubes (circuit city, toys r us, best buy, good guys, etc.) there were lines all over the place.

... oh yea... i also waited in line for the dreamcast as well... man now that was a system worth waiting in line for... i will never foget going home and popping in sonic adventure... damn... that's when gaming was good... now look at it... gta this... halo 2 that... BACK IN MY DAY PEOPLE WAITED FOR 3 MONTHS JUST TO GET A NINTENDO 64 WITH SUPER MARIO 64.

todays gaming sickens me...


*spits on floor*

*walks out of thread*
 
Speevy said:
I've never bought a launch system, so I really just like to enjoy everyone's stupid comments.
Click to expand...

I never have either but im thinking i might for 360 just cause. I have the money, so why not? I actually still dont know if i will or not, though.
 
I was one of the people that had to wait on an N64, but I bought Super Mario 64 on launch day. I stll don't understand how feeble my mind was to try to fit the Mario 64 into the SNES, praying something magical would happen
 
If I do buy launch, I typically end up with just a single game. I don't buy games in bunches normally anyways, why change for a new system? No way would I have time for 3-4.

In the case of the 360 though I'm still waiting on a killer app ... DC had SC, GC had Prime, Xbox had Ninja Gaiden, and PS2 had FFX. I'm sure it'll come along eventually but for now nothing tickles my fancy.
 
The X360 launch will be hard to resist. Since the DC I never missed a launch of a system by more than 1 week, but since I hate MS for releasing a new console after only 4 yrs, I will need to be mentally prepared...
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
rambling
Click to expand...
WHAT

The last system I bought at launch was my N64. I may get a 360, but it depends on a variety of things. For one, I'm not so sure it's going to be such a good investment considering the PS3. Secondly, I'm saving up for another vacation and nearly $600 CDN (system/games) is a great deal of money when I have many other expenses.
 
Icebeezy, I think you would be insane to not take the day off work when you're buying that many games at launch, no matter what your wife says. :D That's cool that you're able to buy all those games, but will you really have time to play all those titles? I can sort of understand if you're more of a collector, but to me it sounds like you're spreading yourself pretty thin. It would take you a solid month to try them all if you just played one for a few hours each day.

For me, I would be anxious that I wouldn't get to devote near the time I wanted to to each of those titles. The only system I've ever bought at launch was the DS *puke* and we all know how that turned out. I like it, but I still only have two games for it.

If it were me, I would cut the number of titles in half at least, not only to save $ but to save myself the frustration of having that many titles I hadn't gotten maximum enjoyment out of. Besides, if prices drop next gen like they have this gen, by the time you get ready for some of those games you'll still have saved some $ overall. Just my two cents. I really do hope you have a blast at launch, though. It's nice to see some enthusiasm over it, when so many people frown upon it. :) The main reason I'm not jumping headfirst into next gen is because there are so many titles from this gen I still want to play. I would go insane if I added more consoles and games to the mix.
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
I was one of the people that had to wait on an N64, but I bought Super Mario 64 on launch day. I stll don't understand how feeble my mind was to try to fit the Mario 64 into the SNES, praying something magical would happen
Click to expand...

I didnt get my nintendo 64 until march of 1997... nintendo put system back on the shelves around late january /early feb in my area but I waited a little longer to pick up super mario 64 & mario kart 64.

as for the 360... i plan to pick one up at launch... truth be told... if it werent for ridge racer 6 i would have said otherwise... in fact because of this years e3 i didnt want any system period... sequels, fps, and ea... yea right... i'd rather just go to the arcade.

but so far microsoft is getting the games i like so i think it's worth it.
 
Agent Icebeezy said:
The Xbox 360 represents the first launch I've really prepared for. I'd wager I'll walk out of the store more than 90% of the games that day.
Click to expand...

Dude, I'm sorry, but that is so friggin' ridiculous.

I'm getting a 360 on launch day too. But come on, it's 4 months away from the launch we barely know anything about any of the games!

PDZ? We've yet to really see the thing!

We don't know how much it will cost, the games could cost $60, and you're willing to throw all that money away? We don't know what games will be rushed, what ones will be complete letdowns, etc. Hell, how many in game screens of launch games are even released!?

I'm with you, really, I'm getting it on day one, but I think you should be a bit more cautious.
 
I am still not hyped for the 360 launch. Little things like the price, the release date, the release date of competing consoles, and the launch lineup would be required for me to start any kind of planning.
 
I'm personally not a fan of the 360, but launch days for any console you are pumped about are awsome :)

Like most people have said, don't buy too many games. Get enough where you would have a good variety and get titles that are from different genres of interest to you.

For instance, a racing game, a platformer, and rpg, and a fighting game are usually a good combo for me at launch.

Plus, its always better to preorder as many games as possible. Then once launch comes, you can pick and choose which you want based on reviews.

I have to say though, November is going to be a fun month :)
 
Zeo said:
Dude, I'm sorry, but that is so friggin' ridiculous.

I'm getting a 360 on launch day too. But come on, it's 4 months away from the launch we barely know anything about any of the games!

PDZ? We've yet to really see the thing!

We don't know how much it will cost, the games could cost $60, and you're willing to throw all that money away? We don't know what games will be rushed, what ones will be complete letdowns, etc. Hell, how many in game screens of launch games are even released!?

I'm with you, really, I'm getting it on day one, but I think you should be a bit more cautious.
Click to expand...

Well, in my defense, I knew all the things that could happen before putting that money up. It's already spent, I've resigned myself to that. However, I'm not throwing my money at a Fantavision hoping for an orgasmic experience. Most of the games there are proven commodities, by proven developers. There are a few new franchises there, but I'm more app to take a chance on that than most. If I have to take an L on a game, it is what it is. The only true barometer of a game to me is my opinion. I don't rent, so I buy. Have I been burned before, yes, most recently with latest Unreal game on Xbox. I knew I shouldn't have bought that when I got it, but I'm such an Unreal whore. Itchy pocket got the best of me. I thought Killer 7 was going to do me in, but it's a kickass game. The money isn't the issue, my enjoyment is. So, if I have to spend a lil bit more once in a while to find a diamond in the rough, so be it. Thing is, that isn't the case for the Xbox 360. I know most of these games and what to expect. Now, with the newer franchises appearing on launch date. I've followed those more than the others. Everything seems to be a go with Saint's Row, Full Auto looks to be a blast on XBL, I expect high production values from Frame City Killer. The only other one is The Outfit. Looks like Mercenaries, that was not that polished but still a fun game. I hope THQ does that better. I don't deride a game and see such and such is a clone, and then discard it without looking at the merits of it. Like most do with Saint's Row and GTA, that is the most notable one from where I'm standing. All I ask for is better play mechanics than GTA and every article about the game mentions that area of Saint's Row isn't lacking. Good for me. Some of my favorite games aren't AAA games, I'm sure that trend will continue on the 360
 
The last launch I got hyped for was the SNES, and even then I waited a few months before actually getting one. This will be the first launch period where I'll have the money to buy at least one of the systems coming out. I'm not 100% sold on the Xbox 360 and I think it will depend on pricing, extras, lineup and that sort of thing. I'm definitely feeling the hype.
 
This will be the first home console launch I go with, but I can't imagine going for all those games! It's best to be cautious with a launch library, no matter the developers. I'll largely be looking for something good for LIVE (the whole reason I'm going on launch day) and maybe something massive like Obsidian.
 
I'm not sure whether I want the X360 at launch or not yet. At the moment, there just isn't enough content to get me to bite yet. There are only two games that are even pushing my 360 launch purchase and that's Oblivion and RR 6. If N3 shows up at launch, I'll pick that up alongside the 360 and same goes for PDZ if it wowes me in this short time that is left. Still, I need a little more time to make up my mind. There are still a lot of games left that I have yet to play and even more left to come.
 
This is the first sytem in years that I probably won't get at launch. Of course, I said the same thing about the PSP and I made it a whole day.

That said, I've been burned by enough bad launch games that I'm willing to just start with one or two of the best and hope to ride it out until there's something more interesting. I've never had success with buying multiple games on the same day, because the game that doesn't satisify me as quickly is usually doomed to never being played again.

As for anxiety, I agree with Demi that masturbation is the best solution.

(Can't wait until Hillary Clinton's aids start reading GAF, "See what GTA does? Our children are MASTURBATING")
 
I preordered a GC, saw the line at the mall go right out the door before the store opened, then I drove my ass over to Best Buy as they were opening and bought one painlessly.

Then I cancelled the preorder and avoided buying the worthless shit (you get your money back too. It's not a bad insurance policy).
 
CVXFREAK said:
Basically, I just wait for the launch to come. I only ever pre-ordered a GC, though. I'll pre-order a 360, though.
Click to expand...
Gamecube was the only one I have ever pre-ordered as well, even though I have bought quite a few consoles at launch. I probably wont need to pre-order a 360, even if I do decide to pick it up on the first day.
 
The only two launch experiences I've felt something special (and thus anxiety from anticipation) for were Dreamcast and PSP. When time neared for my PSP to ship, I was goin' crazy. While it WAS shipping, I was crawling up the walls. For that 'un, I did everything I could to stay busy. I probably cleaned up the whole house that week.

Dreamcast, hooboy. The nuclear war of anxiety as far as launches go; I still can't believe it looking back. I was all over town that day, scouring for the ideal mix of everything I wanted - launch titles, accessories, what have you. Never been that giddy.
 
I remember feeling like I was unearthing the holy grail as I rescued my GameCube from its cardboard prison in my van, before taking off for home.

Felt similarly with N64 and PSP. And to a lesser extent, Dreamcast (which I bought the day before the announced discontinuation)
 
I just remind myself I work at a job where I earn minimum wage and have to pay union dues, with a lot of my money being spent on taking my girlfriend out to dinner/lunch.

Then I sob wet tears of empty wallets.

Also, I remind myself my internet connection is living in the stone age so I can't very well play any games online.

Life sucks.
 
Spencerr said:
I just remind myself I work at a job where I earn minimum wage and have to pay union dues, with a lot of my money being spent on taking my girlfriend out to dinner/lunch.

Then I sob wet tears of empty wallets.

Also, I remind myself my internet connection is living in the stone age so I can't very well play any games online.

Life sucks.
Click to expand...

Um, dump the girlfriend, and get broadband.

Could life get any easier?




YES.
 
demi said:
Um, dump the girlfriend, and get broadband.

Could life get any easier?




YES.
Click to expand...

The moment I get a Next Gen console, I'm going to make my parents get broadband if it means paying the difference every month.

Edit: Come to think of it, I'll be going off to college soon enough.
 
I pretty much tell myself that it's just a damned console, and that not getting one on launch day isn't the end of civilization.
 
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