Now, must admit, I was a midnight release virgin. I've been to E3, and I've been to some wacky videogame parties, but the thought of lining up outside of a store, in the mall, during the witching hour, never really occurred to me. So when I called my local Software, Etc. to check on my PSP reservation, and Yolanda told me they were having a midnight release party, I figured I had to go, in the name of journalism, if nothing else.
While I very eager to get my hands on the PSP, I was also a little bit scared. Who attends these kinds of things? Was it like camping out for U2 tickets with scalpers and rabid, slightly smelly, fans? Would the mall be full of 12-year old members of videogame gangs tagging the closed Hot Dog on a Stick shop and harassing mall security? Or perhaps it would be closet videogame players, who for one reason or another couldn't make it during the day, like corporate executives, or vampires... or corporate vampires. Being slightly nervous, I figured there was safety in numbers, and knowing full well that my wife wouldn't be caught dead waiting in line for a videogame, I contacted a friend who is a professional people watcher.
So we get to the mall, at 11:30, park, and wonder around in the wet snow looking for an open door. Being a rocket scientist, I didn't bring a coat, as I thought I'd be able to enter the mall from the parking garage (you could, just not on the floor I parked at... rocket scientist, remember?). So, after getting soaked to the bone, without only the thought of Wipeout Pure, to keep me warm, we finally find an open door. So we enter, and images of Dawn of the Dead come rushing through my mind, as I walk by the closed food court. Of course, on cue, the mall security comes up to us, mumbles something about the proper door, pepper spray, blah blah blah and tells us, "just kidding". I wish I knew what he was kidding about, bur really I zoned out after his second sentence. After all, I am freezing and preoccupied with PSP fantasies.
So we get there and stand in line with about 25 other folks all eagerly awaiting their prepaid PSPs. For some reason I thought there'd be more people, but then I asked to myself: a) how many people really pre-pay for their PSPs? and b) how many are probably lost wondering in the snow looking for the door? The folks in line were very nice, and the Software, Etc. was kind enough to spring for pizza, soda, and cookies. We all made horrible videogame jokes, which my non-gamer friend found terribly amusing, and had a pretty good time, until the clerk approached the locked door.
It was amazing, we were all pals, chatting about the PSP, which games we reserved, but as soon as it came time to enter the store, and take possession of the prized PSP, it was all business. It was as if the Pope had entered the room, except he wasn't ill and he wanted to give us PSPs. OK, maybe it wasn't like the Pope entering the room at all, but as soon as the door to the store cracked open everyone stood up straight, all smiles vanished, and the air was thick with unexpressed excitement and anticipation.
Once the door was open people scrambled to get in line, gawking at all the PSP accessories, offering to trade reserves on games, "I've got Metal Gear Acid Reserved, I'll swap you for your Wipeout Pure reservation." I stood in line and it was as if the world was silent. I couldn't hear a thing. I felt like I wasn't worthy, and prayed that when I got to the counter, I wouldn't be turned away, "Sorry, Roger, Sony has decided you aren't worthy of a PSP. Try again next week."
Then I was there. I was at the front of the line. There was a glowing light behind the clerk, and as I showed her my ID a chorus of angels sang and she handed me heaven in a box. The Sony PSP was mine. The world was beautiful, and I was happy to be a part of it. She gestured to another line, the one where I would receive the games I pre-ordered, and my feet came back and touched the ground. This wasn't a dream. I was actually going to be able to play my precious PSP that very night.
I swapped my reserve of Metal Gear Acid (it was being sent to me) for Wipeout Pure, and was saddened by the fact that the Ridge Racer delivery man was running late. Rather than wait around for him, I figured I'd come back the next day. I had midnight gaming to do. PSP in hand, I wandered back to my car. I felt like I had gone up the mountain, and came back with life changing wisdom.
To my traveling companion and all of the other pilgrims who stood in line with me, good journey. And a hearty thanks to the Software, Etc. for making the PSP pilgrimage possible.
