The already long Nintendo Switch lines have gotten that much longer. Meaning? Things are suddenly more unpleasant for those wanting to buy a Switch.
As Kotaku previously reported, the console has been drawing long lines for months afters its release, and well-known game creator Hideki Kamiya recounted his unsuccessful attempt at trying to buy one. While those were long lines, the most recent ones in Tokyo and Osaka are brutal.
A massive line formed this morning at the Yodobashi Camera in Tokyo’s Akihabara. It was apparently over three thousand people long!
The store only had 250 Nintendo Switch consoles!
Remember, folks are lining up for a chance to buy. When game consoles are in short supply, Japanese retailers hold raffles. These are typically done in the morning, so while you probably don’t need to camp out overnight, you do need to get in line. People waiting get a number, there is a drawing and those with the winning numbers can buy the console.
Summers are hot and humid in Japan, and here we have thousands of people waiting hours for a chance to spend money. If they don’t win, they’ll go home empty-handed and sweaty.
Here is today’s Yodobashi Camera line in Akihabara.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/886712251721293825
https://twitter.com/embed/status/886710785778491392
現在ヨドバシアキバでSWITCHの抽選券貰うための行列中。
まさかこんなに歩かされるとは……
見たところ3000人以上並んでる。#Switch難民 多すぎ…… #任天堂 さん何とかしてよ……_(:3 」∠)_#Switch pic.twitter.com/aQGKXseaqV— 島崎アキラ【公式】 (@dango_3k) July 16, 2017
アキバのヨドバシがスイッチ抽選でカオスすぎる状態に！これがスプラトゥーン2のパワーか – https://t.co/aSMl9OwKXT pic.twitter.com/wvmZIoPBPx
— スプラ3まとめ-トリカラ速報 (@torikarasokuhou) July 17, 2017
ヨドバシAkibaのSwitch抽選会来たけど列がここまであって控えめに言ってクソ pic.twitter.com/h6OvRZ3YzG
— おにぎり🍙 (@riceball0712) July 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/embed/status/886729606090285056
アキバヨドバシのスイッチ抽選の様子。これ約五分前です。
現在余裕で橋を渡り、岩本町駅出口付近
券はあるから、今から並んでも問題ないらしい(当たるとは言っていない pic.twitter.com/YM1ajNxkmT— パルデアけいちー (@BRSxWRS) July 16, 2017
Switchの抽選券の行列@秋葉原ヨドバシの様子です‼️
店舗を1周し昭和通りを出て書泉を越え岩本町駅を越え神田雲林坊さんを越えてます‼️あと少しのびたら肉の万世さんまで行く勢い😱
もう隅田川の花火大会くらいの人混みです。ザッと見積もって5千人位はいそう。。🤓 pic.twitter.com/gKItXZL0WM— たけ丸@真・秋葉原おすすめランチ (@akibalunch) July 16, 2017
On Sunday, there was a similar raffle at the Yodobashi Camera in Osaka’s Umeda, which only had 200 Switch consoles. The line was reportedly 2,100 people long.
ヨドバシ梅田のスイッチ200台にコレ 無理だぞw pic.twitter.com/ybjaOC8wlL
— ono masaki (@onoma_jp) July 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/embed/status/886359746927665152
https://twitter.com/embed/status/886353452401479680
https://twitter.com/embed/status/886358878035652608
No wonder people on Twitter have been calling these raffle events “jigoku” (地獄) or “hell.”
And Splatoon 2 isn’t even out yet!
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