Somewhere between 6:01am and 6:03am, I hit a brick wall. Brain mush. Legs rubbery. Sligthly dizzy.

We've been broken up into grounds of one hundred. Then filed neatly between red plastic cones, between which we're expected to wait.

Earlier, I ran into a game producer, waiting with several employees. The start of the evening was spent shooting the shit. The lack of sleep and wear of being in a parking garbage for hours has set in. Conversation has slowed.

Cold air is blowing on my face, directly down my throat.

A rotund Yodobashi Camera staffer with a earphone in his ear and mic in his starts talking bringing up the momnotiny of music, then loudspeaker announcement.

The Wii will go on sale shortly, he tells us. How many units? 2,800 total he says. Game producer Ben points out that something like 1,200 PS3 were sold at launch.

Row by row, one hundred customers stand up and head toward the glass doors. Feeling stir-crazy. Two thousand plus lined up in neat little rows. Towards the glass doors, we move. Together. Brian Ashcraft

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