Early evening. The first floor shutter crash down, and Yodobashi staff in blue jackets, holding signs and mics. The announcements commence.

For those purchasing the Nintendo Wii. Please take a ticket and go up to the 11th floor.

The 11th floor? We're not lining up outside. We're lining up inside.

An elevator, wrapped in steel. Two women in front of the door. Both young. Fashionable.

Here's the system: We have to wait on the 11th floor. A security guard tells me that we must stay there until 12:30am. In effect, we're locked in, missing the last train. We can leave the parking garage until 4:00am. What next, not sure.

A wet, rainy PS3 launch, this is not.

The elevator doors open. Gray smoke curls in fluorescent lights. I'm in a parking garage. Filled with people. Brian Ashcraft

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