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[Jeff-DSA]

For the PS2 launch:

My buddies and I (six of us in all) camped out in front of a Super Target the night before. We happened to get the last 6 systems in the store and we headed to my house to hook up one of them. I was the only one that wanted the system, but my friends were caught in the hype that had worn off by the time we'd got back to my house. After staying up playing all night, we decided that we'd eBay the otehr 5 systems and share the profits.

That funded my gaming for the rest of the year...

For the GameCube launch:

I was out of the country so my mom picked on up at Fred Meyer when they opened on launch day. I was dying to get back home to play the system, but it was 4 months before I came home. By then I had a few games waiting for me and 4 controllers. My friends and I stayed up all night with SSBM for like 5 nights straight.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

It just baffles me the completely unorganized, idiotic systems retail chains like Walmart and Target have (had) for these launches.
Having 200 people mass together and then say "NOW MAKE AN OFFICIAL LINE!" in the last 30 minutes... it's always going to be chaos... and they are goddamn lucky if someone doesn't get hurt (prompting some kind of lawsuit.)

I liked the Best Buy method someone else mentioned up top.

You have, say, 30 systems. First 30 people to form a line get a number. You have to stay the full time in order to get it, but the key is that you won't be sitting in a line for 4 hours and some shitheel skips ahead and gets one in the last 5 minutes.

If people have the insane determination to sit in a line for all of those hours, by god, they should get one. Ridiculous. Are the people that manage these stores right off the burger flipping line?

 

[kenta]

I could have sworn there was a PS2 launch story on stileproject.com somewhere but it was so many years ago that I can't remember if it was actually on stileproject or if it was a link... But someone should go look for it, it was a hilarious story. I'd look but I'm at work.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

yeah man, but the craziness enchances the memories.
Sure, I would have been singing a different tune if I was just 3 people back in the PS2 launch line, but you know...

 

[daegan]

I preorder just about everything, so my craziest launch so far was actually Chrono Cross for PSX - I waited for the UPS guy in a software etc. for 8 hours - from the moment the mall opened until they opened the box. My best friend was kind enough to stick it out with me - we'd hit the food court and then come back and then go play Tekken and then come back. I'd say we spent 6 1/2 hours actually in the store, sitting on the floor.

And then they tried to screw me out of my clock and soundtrack. Aw hell naw.

 

[ToyMachine228]

Not a great story, just contributing the thread...But anyway, at the Halo 2 Midnight Madness, the cop there threatened to take every single one of us to jail if any of us ran in when they opened the doors. He told us that if we're that excited for a "dumbass videogame" then your an idiot anyway :lol

 

[Animal]

I preordered my PS2 7 months ahead at a local electronics store...My mom went to go pick it up VIP style the morning of the 26th of November passing in front of everybody waiting in line. Someone offered her 1000$ for it on the way out and I told her to say no. Man I Regret that but I wanted the PS2 so bad for so long I couldn't at the time. She was so spooked by the the whole crowd and everything that she put the ps2 in the vault of the bank she works in for the rest of the day.

And I was calling between classes to ask her hows it doing. One thing though everyone in the office opened it and took a peek. So I didnt get the honor of being the one to open it. oh well.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

I preorder just about everything, so my craziest launch so far was actually Chrono Cross for PSX - I waited for the UPS guy in a software etc. for 8 hours - from the moment the mall opened until they opened the box. My best friend was kind enough to stick it out with me - we'd hit the food court and then come back and then go play Tekken and then come back. I'd say we spent 6 1/2 hours actually in the store, sitting on the floor.

And then they tried to screw me out of my clock and soundtrack. Aw hell naw.

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[gstaff]

PS2 launch was quite a blast for me. Early in the day, I figured I could just go to a 24 hr. Meijer and just be in line early and get one at midnight....dumb. By the 6 o'clock news, I realized it was going to be a frenzy. When I got to Meijer, they had 20 of them and you had to put your name in a bowl for a drawing (with about 250 people there). Being at the University of Michigan, it was funny how some of the first few names were Anthony Thomas, David Terrell and Drew Henson.

So Meijer didnt work for me and many others. When I got to the parking lot, it was a circus as SUV drove over curbs to short cut to Best Buy, Media Play and Target. By the time I was outside, it looked like a lost cause. My buddy and I drove all over and saw the same thing. It was weird that you saw cars driving around at 2am and you knew they were looking for the right place to camp out until stores opened the next day (I think Meijer was the only midnight sales outside of EB).

About an hour later we found some random KMart with a short line of 4 people. They told us that employees confirmed that there would be 4 PS2 and that between the 4, they were only getting two. So we camped out there all night going to some 24 hr Farmer Jack for eats. One of the guys left and brought his Dreamcast and we plugged it in near the front door and played until they opened in the morning. I got the PS2 and TTT (I had plenty of review copies of SSX, Madden, etc. from my gig at the school paper waiting for me).

When I finally got home, it was time for me to go to class. I would have skipped but my asshole roommate was going to want to play PS2 all day, so I didn't hook it up until I got back from class and he was gone.

 

[Synbios459]

Snuck up on me, it did.

Yoda???

 

[Kobun Heat]

We bought the Super NES when it launched, but that was back before stuff actually had a 'launch date.'

My first day-one product launch was the N64, and if you remember, that ended up launching four days ahead of schedule. It was supposed to hit on Sunday the 29th, but retailers got them in on the 26th or so. Some immediately started selling them, and eventually Nintendo sent a message to retail that the street date had been broken and smoke if ya got 'em.

So down to EB we went, and, uh, I wish I had a story other than "I went in, bought the system, bought both games, went home; it was fucking awesome."

You'd think GameCube launch would be a story, but I actually got a loaner system two weeks beforehand. So I sent it back, didn't bother picking one up at launch because NOA was sort of vaguely saying that they'd get me a permanent unit, which they didn't.

So as I slowly came to realize that, they sent me Super Smash Bros. Melee and DAMN I wanted to play it. I called around and Best Buy had like three systems. Problem: couldn't take the subway there and didn't drive. So I called a like-minded friend with a car and he agreed on the adventure. We zoomed over and got a GCN and one extra controller, making three (I already had one for some reason). We played three-player SSBM long into the night.

And that was my only speed-to-the-store launch adventure. Preorders, people!

 

[TheJollyCorner]

Yoda???

Orange Soda?

 

[Craig Majaski]

I'm not sure how exciting my stories will be, but here goes:

Years before the SNES came out I had wanted one. I had been reading about the system in EGM since 1989 (before it was even out in Japan) and knew I had to have it. After it launched in Japan, EGM had several exclusive previews on the game where they showed a ton of pics on Mario World. In one of the issues there was an ad for some mail order company (can't remember the name now) to preorder the SNES. I went ahead and did it. Back then it was like $199 for the system, but I remember having to pay $229 through this place, but I knew I'd get it first.

So, August of 1991 rolls around and back then there wasn't any Internet to go look up the latest game news. I had called NOA several times to see what day SNES was coming out and they always said September. The mail order place gave me a call around Aug. 20 and said my item had shipped. I was so happy, but there was a hitch. Our family was leaving for a 4 day camping trip...but 2 of the days were over the weekend so I hoped that by Monday or Tuesday of the following week the SNES would be at my house. Monday rolled around and we were home. 3:30 pm hit and no UPS. Usually UPS would show up by then. I had given up hope that it would arrive that day and headed upstairs to do other things when my Mom yells out, "UPS is here!" I flew down the stairs so fast and went to the door, signed for the package, ripped it open and there it was. I hooked it up slowly. It seemed to take FOREVER, but it was worth the wait. Threw in Super Mario World and played from 5 PM to 2 AM or so. Took a few breaks to call friends to brag I had the system. They would have to wait another 2 weeks before the system even showed up in any stores around here.

I didn't buy a Genesis until 1993 I believe. It was like $129 and came with Sonic? I bought it so I could buy the Sega CD. Had that reserved at Software Etc. I believe it hit a delay right before launching so it was like an extra week of waiting. Why I wanted a Sega CD so bad I don't know. There were a few great games like Snatcher, Lunar, Sonic CD, and Final Fight though.

In 1995 I reserved a PlayStation at EB at the Mall of America. They ran a special where for every 16-bit game (didn't matter the title) you'd get $10 off the system. I traded in the really bad games between my brother and me and paid the system off in full. When I got there that morning (a Saturday if I remember right?) the mall wasn't too busy, but there was a pretty big line outside EB. I wasn't worried because I had mine paid off, but after I got there many people were waiting behind me. I don't know how many systems they had in total. For some stupid reason I didn't think to reserve a copy of Ridge Racer (the game I really wanted) and they were sold out. I walked over to GameStop in the mall and they had a couple copies left so I grabbed one there.

In 1996 I got my N64 reserved at Software Etc. Went to college way up north and was surprised to get a call 3 days early telling me I could pick it up. I dropped what I was doing and rushed down to the store (180 miles away) to grab the system, Mario 64 and on impulse, Pilotwings. What a bitch it was to get extra controllers. Any one else remember how difficult it was? It wasn't until December before I actually got 3 extra controllers.

Never reserved a Dreamcast, easily walked into a local Wal-Mart and picked it up on 9-9-99. Had tro drive an extra 30 miles to find any memory cards though.

PS2 launch. I was sure I didn't need to reserve. Heck, I was sure I could wait. The day it came out (Oct. 26, 2000 I believe) the itch hit me. I had to have one. I wanted to play SSX and Ridge Racer. Around 6 PM I call up to Wal-Mart and ask if there's anyone in line. They quickly inform me that if I want one I'd better get there now. So I hop in the car and go up there and I'm 27th in line out of 28 that will be handed out. Wait 5 hours with some really friendly folks. If I'd have thought about it I would have brought a Game Boy or something because it did get boring rather quickly. Some other kids had magazines and stuff to look at so it wasn't too bad. People kept on piling up in the back of the line despite being told they wouldn't get one. I guess they hoped someone would leave. Oh, the first person in line who had been there since 2PM that day was a grandpa. He was like 70 years old. It was a XMAS present for his grandson. Talk about dedication.

GC had reserved at Funcoland, but ended up not needing to pick it up when Nintendo surprised me with a free one. I was told I wouldn't be getting one for review, but for some reason they sent one anyway with Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race.

Xbox I had reserved at Funcoland and had no problems picking mine up. GameCube launch was a bit more busy than Xbox was, so it's interesting to see Xbox sell more in its lifetime. My initial Xbox was defective. It wouldn't play audio, instead just static. So I was able to exchange mine since they weren't sold out.

PSP had reserved at GameStop. In retrospect wouldn't have needed to.

Currently have Xbox 360 reserved at GameStop. Glad I did because they have a ton of people on 2nd shipment and I'm on first. Have my name down to be called when PS3 and Revolution are reservable.

Reserving definitley takes a lot of stress out of the equation

 

[Craig Majaski]

Oh, I do have a couple launch day stories involving games. Back in the NES days, before the Internet, the only source for game release dates was usually Nintendo. I had that number memorized and would call every 2 or 3 weeks (how they must've hated me back then!). I couldn't wait for Super Mario Bros. 3. That game was hyped beyond belief. It was supposed to come out in March 1990, but again there really wasn't a hard release date. One day, after school I get a call from a classmate who I never really talked to outside of school. He tells me that he just bought SMB 3 at Woolworths (R.I.P.). I beg my Mom to take me down there (20 miles away) so we can pick it up. She caves in and even buys me the game. The cost? $64.99! Yikes. I played that game so much I think I beat it in a week. It still remains my favorite game of all time.

Another Woolworths story. In June of 1990 Final Fantasy was getting ready to release. I remember reading about the game for almost an entire year before it came out in Nintendo Power. Every other month they had special reports about the game. Went to the mall one day with my aunt to go shopping. For the heck of it, decide to stop in at Woolworths just to see what kind of selection they had. For those who don't know, Woolworths wasn't a video game shop. It was more of a drug store, or a mini-wal-mart. So, after scoring SMB 3 there early, I always checked the selection just to see what they had. I'm looking at the games and there it is. Final frickin' Fantasy sitting on the shelf. I couldn't believe it! I had to borrow some money from my aunt (I was short a few bucks), but I got it! All the way home I read the instruction book. It was massive. All summer long I played through the game, many times with a friend watching and helping with ideas and whatnot. Other than Dragon Warrior, this was my only RPG so it took forever to go through. We had so much fun working our way through the game, and this is before hint books and gamefaqs. Sometimes I think kids have it way too easy now-a-days

Sadly, shortly after Woolworths closed down nationwide, but by then other retailers like Software Etc had entered the market and solid release dates became available.

 

[909er]

Only launch I've been to was teh Halo 2 launch near my university. The PA comic wasn't too far off, since there were a lot of guys wearing their fraternity letters, combined with the uber geeks(some had a light saber). The line was 300 strong, but I got my game.

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

The Experiment's Dreamcast Launch Experience

The first launch I ever participated in was the Dreamcast launch. I was 14 at the time. Being at Blast City, the anticipation there made me anticipate the launch. I remember not getting any sleep the night before the launch. I begged my parents to let me call in and get the Dreamcast but they were firm in their decision not to call me in. However, after school they would get me the Dreamcast. Prior to this, I busted my ass doing odds and ends and scrounged up about $350. This was enough to get a Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure, Blue Stinger, a VMU, tax, and a few dollars to put down on Marvel vs. Capcom.

When I got to Electronics Boutique, there was a small line of people with a long ass receipt in their hands, ready to receive the little white box. One guy I remember got all the launch games, three controllers, and four VMUs. It was a small line. The Dreamcast kiosk was up and running with kids playing Sonic Adventure and parents asking if they could buy one. "Sorry, we're all sold out" the EB employee said. I had a smirk on my face as yes Mrs. Soccermom, I was getting a Dreamcast and you weren't. When I got my bag, it was a black bordered with purple Dreamcast bag.

I walked out triumphantly, ready to play the Sega goodness.

The Experiment's DS Launch Experience

Come to think of it, getting a DS was an impulse. I saw it in the ads and realized I had to get one. I got a GBC for Christmas of 1998, I got a GBA SP summer of 2003, and now here it was, another Nintendo handheld. It was impulse. I drove in, worked out, and came to EB. Surprisingly, they were fully stocked with DS units. I figured they would have filled up on pre-orders like the Dreamcast. There was a long line I remembered. I was hoping it wasn't all for the DS. Fortunately for me, only one customer in line purchased a DS, the rest were buying Christmas games for their kids on already existing systems. Was able to get a copy of Super Mario 64 DS, my DS, and walked right out.

That's pretty much it. I got the PSP three days after the launch.

 

[vatstep]

N64 Launch:

This was my first launch system, so I was pretty excited. I was 12. I pre-ordered about two months ahead of time at EB..it was a birthday present (probably the biggest one I ever got). Of course, I got the call on September 26th that I could go pick it up, but that day is my brother's birthday, so I had to go halfway across the state with my family that night to visit him at his new house instead. The following 24 hours were brutal. The next night, my mom took me to EB and we picked up my N64 and SM64, along with an INTERACT RF ADAPTER. Which, obviously, was a piece of shit so we went back and exchanged it for a Nintendo one the next day.

DC Launch:

With the promise of next gen in mind, I sold my N64 and games to Funcoland and pre-ordered the Dreamcast there about a week before launch. They assured me that I NEEDED TO PRE-ORDER. Did the midnight launch thing, there were like eight other people there. I got NFL2K, Sonic, Soul Calibur, Ready 2 Rumble (defective) and TrickStyle. :lol

PS2 Launch:

I was happy with my DC, so I was convinved that I didn't need a PS2. Of course, I gave in after that huge feature EGM did on all the launch games, features, DVD, etc. By that time, it was too late to pre-order anywhere, and I really didn't want to wait outside Best Buy (which was a good idea, since over 200 people showed up at the store), so I scrounged up all the money I had and bought a pre-order on eBay for $430 in a dutch auction. Yes, I probably could've saved $130 if I tried harder, but whatever. I got my system from the dude the day after launch and I was happy. Picked up SSX, Smuggler's Run, NHL, and TimeSplitters.

PSP Launch:

Pre-ordered at EB like a month ahead of time. Even if I hadn't pre-ordered, finding a 1GB Pro Duo before launch was harder than finding a PSP ever was.

Damn, none of those are exciting. I really just wanted to type something.

 

[Zep]

Being at the University of Michigan, it was funny how some of the first few names were Anthony Thomas, David Terrell and Drew Henson.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA holy shit, if thats true its the funniest thing i've ever read at this forum.

 

[Synbios459]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA holy shit, if thats true its the funniest thing i've ever read at this forum.

I don't get it:/

Anyway, my launch stories:

Dreamcast: My mom bought it for me, along with Ready 2 Rumble at Toys R Us the day it came out. I didn't preorder but there was enough. Although there was only R2R and Blue Stinker available, I debated on what to get, but looking back R2R was the better choice Funny side-note: My mom made me take it back because she didn't like how you could punch women. It was cool because she let me exchange it for Sonic Adventure, although I plan to get R2R again because I remember really liking it.

PS2: I had preordered it from an Software Etc pretty late so I was told I would have to wait for the second shipment. I told my dad and he ended up calling the software etc and fanagling with them, as he put it. Anyway he said he got them to put me on the top of the list so I was pretty happy. However come launch day they said I couldn't get it because "all of their PS2s had sold out", well later that night about 30 minutes before they close, I get a call by them saying that someone didn't pick their preorder up and that I could come get it.

Unfortunately I didn't have anyway to get up their so my sister-in law got her brother to take me there. I got TTT with it. It was especially great because I got to take it down to Texas when we went to see my grandmother. I remember unlocking everything by the time we left.

PSP: I live in a small town in Oklahoma, so I wasn't to worried about all the local rednecks caring about a new fangled piece of technology, so I just went up to Wal-Mart at midnight and got one. Funny thing was I didn't have enough money in my account to get it so my friend used his money. He didn't let me play it till I payed him back though (which was understandable) so the next day I asked my dad if he'd pay him back for me which he did, so I got to finally play it. I got Lumines and Wipeout Pure. I didn't really care for it, so acouple days before I left for E3 I sold it along with the games.