Kotaku
What makes a great game launch? Some would say simply getting a highly coveted game like Grand Theft Auto IV into the hands of hungry gamers is enough, but to some of us a launch night means more than that. To some, big-name game launches are like mini gaming conventions, where we can swap stories, bitch about the way the store is handling things, and speculate on how much sleep we'll be losing over the next couple of days. Or, it can just be a line of people waiting. I attended two different midnight launches at GameStop tonight and got a healthy dose of both sorts of events, just 10 miles apart.
GameStop One - Roswell, GA
When I moved last year I had to say farewell to my favorite GameStop in favor of something a bit closer. At first I was preordering games from the local mall, but said mall wouldn't allow for a midnight launch, so I took things up the street to the Mansell store in Roswell, Georgia. It was here I preordered Grand Theft Auto IV, expecting the gala launch event that GameStop had announced last week. When I arrived at 9PM yesterday evening, I was the only guy waiting. One of the employees informed me that a line would start forming at 10, and that no events were planned. Bummer. I decided to take a trip north to my old GameStop, where I had cut my teeth as a Game Advisor years before. The difference was amazing.
GameStop Two - Alpharetta, Georgia 
At my old stomping grounds there was a tent set up outside already, with the store's Xbox 360 kiosk setup for some Rock Band action and two televisions on a table in case anyone wanted to get their Call of Duty 4 system link on. The mood was bright, the employees excited despite having to stay at the store until 1AM or later. I suggested they order pizza to go along with the free drinks they had available, and dammit, there was pizza.
Due to the mall store nearby not being able to have a midnight launch, the manager from said store was at this one, having set up her own table filled with freebies for the trivia contest that would be taking place later on. They even drew a chalk outline on the floor that was meant to look like it had a head wound but ended up looking like someone had offed Ronald McDonald, but it was the thought that counted.
I may have also scored a pretty damn awesome Iron Man standee - see the gallery for details.
I hung out with the Alpharetta crowd for as long as I dared, desperately trying to stay alive in Call of Duty as my opponent shouted "JIHAD" at the top of his lungs and charged at me time and time again with explosives, taking us both out in the process, and even managed to look slightly less than totally incompetent at Rock Band, thanks to some wandering incompetents passing through.
Come 11:30PM I hopped into the battered Nissan and hightailed it back to the Mansell location.
Return to GameStop One - Sigh 
I will say it isn't the employees' fault that the Mansell store's launch was about as fun as waiting in line for toilet paper in Soviet Russia. When I showed them the pictures of the joy going on up the street, they were just as flustered as I was. What they lacked in style they certainly made up in efficiency. From the back of a rather long line to checkout, I was out the door at 12:06AM, ready to head home and give Liberty City a go.
I guess the moral of the story here is that 10 miles isn't that far when it comes to having a good time, especially when it comes to a big name game launch like Grand Theft Auto IV. They don't come along all that often, so why not make sure they're memorable?
And yes, I bought the strategy guide. I was running out of comics to read in the bathroom.
Comments
I never buy strategy guides.
I helped set up the display stuff last nightat the games store I recently quit, and then hung out with my friends there eating pizza and *gasp* playing some GTA IV before they opened the doors at 2230. There was about 20 people waiting by then, dunno how many more turned up in the hour and a half before they started selling the game.
I met a guy who works at Blizzard during my launch event...I mean, holy crap. I know there's bound to be Blizzard people since they have a big studio in Irvine, but I had no idea... He didn't say anything not revealed yet, but he said they definitely want to try and get SC2 out by the end of this year, and that they got 2 other secret projects. You sure meet interesting people in these lines. :D
Great impressions. I was stuck at work at midnight, but a friend was kind enough to pick the game up for me and drop it off. :)
All those youngsters... are they allowed to buy this game?
Same deal 'round here where I live; one store was dead, the other was rockin' it. Must be a one-per-region deal.
@derFeef: You'd be surprised how they can easily get a copy.
GTA Zombies say brains brains.
Stragedy guide, nice.
Our mall one was open and is open for every midnight launch. Its really weird walking around the mall with no one around, having to follow the dimly lit main hall past the victorias secret and to the gamestop, kind of eerie.
Well worth it. I havent played the game yet and probably wont until later, but its trembling in my hands. Ahh!
did you take a picture of that chick with permission or creep style?
I've never seen any store have a set up like that. It's always a long boring line out here, desperately trying not to make eye contact with anyone else in the crowd
I just got my copy of GTAIV for my PS3. It keeps freezing on the intro movie and story movies. Anyone else haven these problems????
lined up at 11:15 at my EB games in our tiny town. Turned out like 80-90 people, came from literally all over (a few miles out of toronto). However, they only shuffled 3-5 people in at a time so took until like 12:25 before I was in and out. Decided to get mariokart while I was at it, but she wont be played for weeks. GTA is just damn amazing.
Oh, our EB had like 5dollars off the strat guide if you bought it right there, but I couldn't bring myself to do it...
No midnight event where I pre-ordered :(. Going to pick up my copy in about 9 hours.
On my way to Wal-Mart to pick it up (this was about 11:55 CST), I passed a GameStop, and there was a pretty big line. I'm guessing there were at least 40 or so people waiting outside. I got to Wal-Mart, and they had two lines set up in the electronics section; one line for each register. It was pretty slow moving, but eventually I got my copy.
I'm now 2 hours in now... I think the only thing it has on Saints Row is size and story. The default control scheme is kinda bumming me out, cars I've used handle like ass so far (granted, I haven't tried many cars), and the graphics aren't as pretty.. That being said, the city is huge. I'm hoping I'll be able to get familiar with it. The story has characters I'm curious about, so there's one up.
I wish my avatar were more customizable, but maybe the wardrobe will get bigger than it is right now.
I'm not disappointed with the game, I just can't help but be slightly annoyed.
@neko613: I thought everyone in Irvine had worked for Blizzard at one point or another?
@TheRunningboard7: not as pretty as Saints Row? I happened to like saints row, but what game were you playing???
@Sigma-D: Thats nice, really. I am truly happy for you, seriously. He did and his story is up there. I did also, and I enjoyed reading it whilst my game is at home ready to be ravaged when I get home.
Wow, not bad. I worked the midnight launch at my Gamestop tonight (in Baltimore), and it was a relatively painless in-and-out procedure. Strangely enough, our new DM was telling stores that the employees were free to dress "street" and "thug out". Uhm... this isn't San Andreas. That was several years ago. Oh well.
My only gripe about GTA IV so far (apart from no planes to be a-flyin') is the x-axis can't be reversed. It's SERIOUSLY messing with me.
@mishakoz: I was half hoping mid way through your comment you'd suddenly say something like...
1158pm: "I turned the corner to find the entrance had been somewhat boarded up by the zombie staff. All quiet outside...
11:59pm: "No zombies are keeping me from my GTA! As I tore through the benches, seats, golfclubs and random beach equipment that made up the barricade, the first former-possibly-still-probably-still-in-fact-definately-still employee zombie started muttering something about a 'coupon'.
"Register this!" I yelled, picking up the cash register and smashing it down over his temple.
Two more came at me, pricing guns and vacant stares fixed towards me. A moment of worry, but no... what's this? A Mario Kart Wii controller sitting on the counter?!
I dashed towards the nearest zombie, caving his face in with a blow from the $0.99-made-in-China-but-that's-$10-for-you-yanks-wheel before pulling it down over his head. Sweet necklace GORE shot!
The 3rd eyeballed me up and down before lurching towards me! With only one eye I instantly knew it's weakness! I grabbed a new PS3 controller from the wall, then spent the next 5 minutes trying to open the packaging as this freak slowly stumbled around after me. It did at least give me a moment to case the joint and spot the box of GTAIV's on the floor... My prize was close!
12:04am: Packet open and discarded, I flung the PS3 controller at it's only remaining eyeball, muttering "sixaxis that bitch!" as he fell into a heap on to the floor, screaming in a gargled fashion.
12:05am: I bent down and admired the box of GTAIV. Beautiful. I considered taking more than I needed, but i'm no criminal. I picked up a copy and gently carassed it in my hands. "My precious..."
12:07 (following some 'alone' time with the game cover and it's slinky artwork): Suddenly the back door swung open... O... M... F... G. It was Derek, from school, way back when. But now he was... even more gimpy. He slowed came towards me, hands full of... strategy guides! "Do you want a..." Yelling in fear I started pulling down game shelves atop him, but he just kept mumbling "$5 off retail..."
A fist to the head or two and he went quiet. I looked down at him, motionless, drowing in copies of Barbie Adventures, Spyro the Dragon and Halo 3, all pre-owned.
"I pity the fool..." I remarked, slowly heading towards the door. One last "Fantastic!" photo opp, and I was gone. As I wandered towards the mall exit, I felt sure, deep with the darkness, I could still here Derek's pitiful questions ringing on "Would you like a Gamestop branded cleaning cloth? Please?"
12:10am: Girl in car waiting for me. Sweet. She is gonna watch me play GTAIV, without once asking to play, without once asking to do something else or inform me that i'm being 'boring'. Life is sweet.
INT. MALL - GAMESTOP - 12:15
DEREK : Moooooommmyyy...
--
Oh well, coulda gone something like that no?
p.s. I can't be bothered formating the entire thing like a film script. I'm bored tis all.
Mine was rather harmless as well. I heard there were people waiting as early as 7, but I came in there a little after Midnight. There was a long line outside of the store, but it really didn't take more than 5-10 minutes until I found myself at the register.
It's funny too, because I came into this same Gamestop just earlier today around 5 PM, and an employee there told me it was imperative that I show up before 10. Anyone who showed up later would cause them unnecessary hassle he says.
No custom soundtrack :(
In Germany the street date was already broken yesterday and most of the Gamestops and media stores were already selling the game (at least here in Hamburg). I honestly thought the game was overhyped, couldn't resist however to go out and grab a copy of course... The game is amazing, I was really blown away and can't wait to get home from work to continue playing!
i had about 20 people at mine, and it was a small store. was fun.
desperately trying to stay alive in Call of Duty as my opponent shouted "JIHAD" at the top of his lungs and charged at me time and time again with explosives, taking us both out in the process
I like the cut of this fella's jib!
Now that's quite the launch!
I picked mine up at a Wal-Mart and there were around 40 people. As I posted in another topic, after waiting around an hour I went home and the game had a gash across the disc so no gta for me tonight and I'll have to go back again tomorrow.
@kylo4: Wally World is open 24/7 bub. Go on now gettcha yourself a new disc.
@ThatsMrOffDutyNinja: I had no choice but to go to Wal-Mart to get the game since it was the only place open 24 hours and no other store was doing a midnight launch. Figures that with my luck I get a bad disc.
That is the worst looking pizza I ever saw.
I was hoping theyd really get into the spirit of the game for these launches. Cars to hotwire, strippers, and free bazookas fir the first 10 in line. Anyway, I'm off to my local Target at 8am sharp before I go to work to get my copy. I have no clue what to expect since its in an odd part of town and I don't think Target is doing anything special for the game. I shall report back though, if anyone is interested.
@RogueSquid: that was awesome. my favorite part: I grabbed a new PS3 controller from the wall, then spent the next 5 minutes trying to open the packaging as this freak slowly stumbled around after me.
that has to be a record. my fastest time was 6 minutes & 24 seconds & that was with a sawzall & an acetylene torch.
@RogueSquid: Life is sweet, because my girlfriend actually is coming over today just to watch me play. I may even get some "happyfuntimegoodjob". XD
awsome story..
I still remember the ps2 launch cause I was 26th in line. When i got the door the guy in front of me claimed I was trying to butt in front of him and threatened to punch me in the face. Me and my friend thought it was funny as hell since we were both like 15 at the time and this dude was like 30!
But every other midnight launch ive been to has been pretty lame :(
Halo 2 we just stood there and talked to all these kids that already beat the game from being leaked.
@mac-phisto: Ah but he'd obviously died a few times previously and 'leveled' up a little before taking on the challenge of a zombie infested GAMESTOP :)
@enigma89: High-five! See how she likes it when you say comments like "Damn none of these girls as pretty as you..." and "God I'm stressed..." and "Hot damn I do believe I ROCK HARD". Oh, and drop in a "I heard last night while queue'in for the game that it's impossible in todays climate to both suck and blow at the same time, whatever that means..."
Guh need more sleep, 3 hours sleep... I'm gonna pass out just as GTAIV rolls through the door, I just know it.
Btw... been meaning to ask... When you post an article about a game that is R/18/Mature/whatever rated, is commenting/talkback also certificate rated/restricted?
Can we swear, discuss big boobies and Brian's super-duper hair on 17/18+ age related talkbalks?
I dont know about anyone else, but it was a complete sausage fest. Guy claimed they had 500 copys, and 60 le. Which I saw two people get the limited edition.
Opened at 12:01 until 2.There was maybe at least 20 people there and that was about it.
That is at the futureshop I was at. I hated half the kids there as the area is full of them from past conflicts of being on teams in highschool they think they are all better than everyone else.
But they didnt allow any shopping around you went in, got the game and you left. But I did get a free IV hat.
@RogueSquid: You can ALWAYS talk about my hair. lol
@ThatsMrOffDutyNinja: Ooohh...Well, aren't you just special? I'm pretty sure everyone's ravaged their copies at this point. Good for you!!!1!
we had hibatchi, beer pong, multiplayer DS Mario Kart, *and* cosplay at my Gamestop. two news trucks, four cops, and about 100 photographers. Based on the GA. photos, we had a ton more women in line as well.
@RogueSquid: But have you covered wars?
Perth had quite an awesome launch. I managed to score an early entry ticket, so myself, my boyfriend and his friend were there from like 6:30 till midnight.
GameTraders set up a cinema, with the PS3 playing on the screen and smaller TVs off to the side set up with a Wii and 360. They ran tournaments through the night on all three consoles for chances to win a copy of GTA. Was pretty awesome.
Although maybe I'm biased, since the friend won a copy for me in the Smash Bros tourney. AND I CAN'T EVEN PLAY IT YET. Damn, I miss having a 360. :(
@RogueSquid:
Isn't every gamestop filled with zombies? Shoppers AND employees.
@Brian Crecente: What I meant to say was "Can we not only talk about Brian's hair but the things we'd like to do to/with it?" :)
@Sigma-D: You can seriously make an inane comment like I never buy strategy guides and then follow it up on the same post with Ooohh...Well, aren't you just special? aimed at somebody else?
Sausage fest?
A midnight line for an aggressive FPS ... and you thought they would be clumps of nussies?
Where are all these sausages people keep speaking of? I heard of no stores doing an outside barbacue for waiting gamers...
* no don't spend half a talkback explaining it to me.
i wanted to do the midnight launch thing, but where i live there are way too many predators looking to make a steal. if i lived in Manhatan it would prob be a dif story.
sidebar: as i was on the D train (NYC train) this morning on my way to work, i saw a bunch of giddy bastards with their SE copy of GTA4, reading their Strategy Guides! my first thought was, "damn the last time i bought a strategy guide i was like 8. and secondly i was like, "damn you fuckers!!! i gotta wait till i get outta work today to go get my copy! :(
I've been to the Roswell gamestop and met the people there, they seem not to care much about games.
@zanzibarlegend: Ah but now you'll spend the rest of the day thinking over the idea that those "fuckers" know more about the ins-and-outs-and-shortcuts of the game than you... Suddenly you're making sweet love to a brand new strategy guide of your own.
Here in Chicago it was just a line. It was back to 30-some degree weather so it was cold as hell and people just wanted their games.
I'll tell you this though...people were peeling out of the parking lot afterwards like they were ALREADY playing GTA. Dumbasses trying to show off.
tight i got pics too
[pwned.com]
that was in jacksonville fl gamestop
@susurrate:
come on they make just above minimum wage I wouldn't be happy either. And I used to work for them as a part time job I made more than my store manager and AM at my full time job. Sad but hey you do what u love and that keeps one happiness in check.
My EB Games had a Fight Night tourney, pizza, soda, GTA door prizes, a local band playing video game covers, and gave away a free copy of GTA4 at 12:01 to one lucky person.
There were about 80 people there and everyone had a great time. At around 12:05, two local cops showed up and everyone thought something was up, but they were picking up their preorders. We let them cut in line.
@RogueSquid: there was grillin' at my Gamestop. And Beer despite all the cops.