It's 5:30AM in Atlanta, and I am driving down the highway to check out the Perimeter Mall Best Buy, when the local news station sets the tone for the day. "Atlantans are lining up in droves for a chance to buy Sony's new PS3." Working in gaming circles it is hard to imagine that people need to be told this. The radio personality interviews a college student in line; he's selling his to help pay for college. Is anyone planning on actually playing the PS3?

Pulling into the Best Buy parking lot, I am greeted by a sight that should be familiar by now.

Apparently my new camera doesn't like darkness. Or light. Takes excellent pictures of my cat though.

I approach the front of the line, greeted by wary glances from people afraid that the 6'6" man with a shaved head might be coveting their space in line. I hold out my hands in a gesture of peace.

"Don't worry, I'm just a writer." One of them approaches me. "Oh? Who do you write for?" "Kotaku," I reply

"Never heard of them." Off to a good start!

As it turns out, not many people in this line would know about us, as not many in the line are actually gamers. I asked how many people were keeping the system, and only two out of fifty or so people raised their hands. One was a security officer from the mall across the street, who wasn't planning on buying any games. He wanted to make sure he had the system for when something good came out.

The other, was this guy here.

Not only was he buying the system and Resistance, he turned out to be a big fan of Kotaku! He went on to talk for a good half hour about the site, being banned from Cheap Ass Gamer, Cheapy D being 'saucy', discovering Kotaku through a story on IGN, and how much he liked Crecente's house, even going as far as referring to him as 'the guy with the hair." He touched on many other subjects, but halfway through I got distracted by the pungent odor of marijuana suddenly eminating from one of the tents down the line. Nice to see the campers came prepared.

Despite the disappointing number of folks planning on eBaying their shiny new systems, I was greatly bolstered by this one, nameless Kotaku reader. For me he represents the true spirit of being a gamer. Before I took off into the rising sun, he left me with this one, final thought.

"Hey, be sure to mention that I am selling my spot in line! I'm number 17 of 20 for the 60GB!"

Yep, all hope is lost. Michael Fahey