Two pairs of socks are recommended when the goal is to stand on the cold concrete for hours on end in the dark of a waning moon. The chilled earth travels up quivering legs quickly as arms are folded against the increasingly definable winter season. Two pairs of socks and a determination to be one of the first to feel the warmth of electricity as it courses though the pristine circuits of the next era in home console gaming.

In my hometown, a bustling satellite city of a great Midwestern metropolis, I sought to take the temperature of the people during this rare event in our community. Cursing in the darkness up and down a wide commercial road I made some friends, butted a few heads, and found some heart. All names have been changed to protect the innocent (and myself from lawsuits).

THE XBOX FLU

My first stop was a large electronics retailer, known for it’s fondness of the colors blue and yellow, which I have come to call “The Tag.” The 400 lbs gorilla of game sales, The Tag is where I expected to find the most connectivity between a retailer and Microsoft, so it was surprising to find out that there wasn’t going to be a midnight opening. Inspired to dig deeper, I quizzed a few blue-shirts as to the situation.

“Only 11 stores nationwide got midnight openings,” said ‘Trey’, a young man manning the rows of games and accessories this night, “We wouldn’t of minded staying open, midnight events are more fun and we’re going to be here that late anyway,” (Tuesday’s being the traditional day for new media releases, therefore a long night of restocking was ahead.) Instead this particular store would open at 9am, and try act as it was business as usual. If it wasn’t for the line snaked out alongside the building they would be right.

‘Steve,’ age 16, was the first in line outside of the store. He and a few others had been dropped off by his elder relations at approximately 3:45 Monday afternoon properly equipped for the long haul. Apart from head to toe winter gear, he had along with him several blankets and a folding chair from which he watched the final six hours of the business day and the approaching eleven hours in front of a darkened store. There were reports of a minimum of 20 new Xbox 360s and an estimated maximum of 76, but Steve and his group wasn’t going to take any chances. I can’t blame him, he’s in for an experience, a crucible really, to him that system won’t just be paid for, it would be earned.

As for school tomorrow, “I’m going to call in sick,” he said. With the temperature dropping, he might be more right then he knows.

LAST CHANCE

Up the road a ways, past the highway, is a monument to modern retailing. A monument not just to size, but to audacity. In my overdeveloped satellite city, we have small stores (see below), large stores (see above), and super-giant stores (you know the ones I’m talking about, they start with “Wal” or “Tar”). So naturally, they build another! That’s how we ended up with another store that sells everything from Tasers to tangerines. They even found space to market “The Video Games” between the lousy compilation CDs and the seasonal merchandise.

Outside I clearly recognize one of my own kind by his markings, a Gameskins t-shirt, outside of the store at about 10:30, smoking away against the cold. He kindly let me know of the situation: This mega store, filled with goods from matchsticks to Capt. Morgan’s, had exactly five units to sell that night, and they were going out the store Ticketmaster style. A raffle.

Shortly before midnight each member of the ever growing crowd, thankfully inside the store away from the cold, would get a number. And a lucky five ticket holders would get their Wonka-esce prize. No reservations, no eleven-hour-plus waits. Sure it seems fair, but was it any fun? Maybe for those without the extreme forethought to reserve, or the fortitude (or the work schedule) to withstand a vigil, but to me it seemed a little anti-climatic. Although for a moment I was tempted to stay and take my chance, in the end I chose not to participate, my objectivity must be maintained (plus I don’t have $400 handy right about now).

WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME

Midnight was now nearly at hand, and as I sped along the now abandoned boulevard I had one last stop in mind. Once upon a time there was a store that specialized in the buying and selling of used video games, I got my first job at one and it taught me a lot about games and gamers. It’s gone now, although it’s replacement does the same business, you know what they say about an old friend with a new face. I drove past and was a little happy to see the lights still on, but as I walked up closer to the door things looked a little strange. Outside in the cold there was a table featuring a pile of mini-size branded snack bags and some supermarket bakery cookies. Curiosity fully peaked; I decided to crash the party. Inside I was abruptly faced with 20 eyes turning straight at me (fortunately for them, an even number and all in pairs). I have never been pegged as an outsider so fast in my life. From my side a voice rang out, “Do you have your reservation?” It was a release party, and I didn’t have an invitation. Thank the Framers for the First Amendment!

I didn’t need to go the Supreme Court to hang for a few minutes, when I made clear my mission I was welcomed with open arms. My greeter turned out to be the store’s manager ‘Sally,’ she was more then helpful to decide the store’s reservation policy. How their preparation allowed them to get, according to Sally, more Xbox 360s then the suspected Tag total, although she too failed to come completely clean with the true amount. Even my best arguments, including the potent “C’mon!” failed to pry it loose. I’m sure there are at least a dozen good reasons why stores won’t release that information, but I can’t think of one that would help me.

CHILDERN OF THE NIGHT

Sure the Xbox 360 is a big deal, and the reason all of this happened, but not why I was out in the cold that night. I met a store manager who threw a party for her customers, and even got the Sub shop next door to stay open past midnight for her people. I met three guys from the city, “too cool for the room” but there among their own kind anyway. I met a couple waiting in the cold to buy some thing they knew nothing about, just so they could give it sick kids. When midnight finally came, I took my leave of launch night and headed for home. A new console generation is upon us, and just as the systems grow and improve, this night shows the gaming community does as well.

Comments?  Questions?  E-mail me at seth410@gamertransit.com.  Complaints?  It’s too late, ask me tommarow!

Back of the Bus is © 2005 by Seth “4:10” Robison, used with exclusive permission by
gamertransit.com.  Reproduction without permission is prohibited.