PS4 Midnight Launch Fueled by an Army of Rabid Nerd Gamers
by ted2112, HSM team writer
When I posted that I was in line Thursday night at my local Best Buy on Twitter, I was told by followers of mine, in good humor, that I was a nerd.
Yes, I am a nerd — and proud of it. I have waited over a year for the PS4, and November 15th was highlighted on my calendar since E3.
I must admit, however: I messed up. I totally underestimated the demand for the new console and missed the very small window to pre-order it. I have always gotten my PlayStations as soon as they became available, but with the PS4, it was different. Over one-million units were sold that first day alone. My local store had over two hundred units with only twenty-three available for non pre-orders.
I waited at my local store just outside of Boston in a huge, party-like atmosphere. Fortunately for me, the line was moved inside due to the freezing temperatures. Thank you, Best Buy, for trusting a bunch of nerd gamers to not wreck your store. Those of us in line had no idea how many of us were going to get one, but were all there to take our chances.
I arrived at 8PM and took my place in line for the midnight opening. I counted twenty-four people in ahead of me; some had been there since first thing in the morning when there wasn’t even a store-organized line, so they made one themselves. Some had brought folding chairs and camping equipment, ready to ride out the harsh weather conditions. There were many PSP kits and Vitas being used to pass the time. The line was a very social place, and we played spontaneous trivia games and told each other our PSN ID’s and the stories behind them. I found out I had a few HSM readers in line with me and we talked about the future of Home. There seem to be as many different ideas as there are people, but we all agreed we were going to enjoy Home for as long as it lasts.
Nerd
Another line phenomenon: downloading the new PlayStaion app. Many of us didn’t know about it — myself included — and the line served as kind of help and micro-support group. The free app, by the way, is really great: it works with both the PS3 and the PS4, but it was designed with the PS4 in mind. It basically lets you see your XMB, send and receive messages, and get news and updates. It was a fun few hours; even the people who didn’t get a PS4 said they had a good time.
I ended up getting the very last PS4, and returned home at about 1:30 in the morning — exhausted, but happy, and with a few new names for my expanded friend list.
My cat hugging the new family member
About a thousand miles away, fellow nerd and HSM team member/videographer Joe Murray (known to HSM’s EOD Channel followers in Home and elsewhere as Kaptin Fathead) was in line also, but had a slightly different experience. His experience was one similar to Shackleton’s expedition to the Antarctic. He endured freezing temperatures outside, and lived to secure his unit. As social as my group was, that group was much quieter. My group applauded the first person to walk out of the store holding their PS4 like the Stanley Cup over their head, whereas perhaps the group Joe was in was too cold to divert any energy to anything else but survival — or maybe they were applauding, but the sound was far too muffled by the heavy gloves to carry very far. Either way, the outside group was quiet yet determined.
Sony is lucky to have fans like this.
It’s amazing to think that Sony has shipped eighty-million PS3 units worldwide as of November 2013, and the PS4 sold over a million units in one day. It’s a difficult number to get your head around. The L.A. Times is reporting that Sony will sell over three-million by years end. Three-million consoles, and there will be three-million different stories like mine. And this is just the beginning.
We’re in for a hell of a ride. Greatness does indeed await.
November 24th, 2013 by ted2112 | 3 comments
ted2112 is a writer and a Bass player that has been both inspired and takes to heart Kurt Vonnegut words...."we are here on planet Earth to fart around, and don't let anyone tell you different."
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sounds like a fun time on line! It’s great when people pool together and interact to pass the time. I have waited on many lines like this but for various toys, games or beanie babies. It’s great when you get what you came for and I am glad you got your PS4!
I Was so close, but fell at the finish line. Over 7 months ago I had my PS4 money sitting waiting, when I could pre-order I did asap. But then bills came and the PS4 fund had to go, so I started the save up again. I had nearly hit my target when my “better half” informed me she “needed” money to spend while she was on holiday…
That was about a month ago and I know there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I can get the money needed for a launch console.
So uh, anyone wanna buy a pre-order receipt only for use in Dundee, Scotland? lol.
I lol but really inside I’m heartbroken : (
;^) Waiting in queues can inspire the most interesting conversations. We spent about three hours at my location, discussing video games, comic books, and just about anything nerdy. It was cool.