To Wait or Not to Wait: Another Midnight Release

Pre-orders were invented so that you could purchase a game outright and not have to worry this kind of scenario. But now, apparently, it's not enough to secure a copy, but to touch it at the exact moment of it's release. To wait in line with other people that pre-ordered. It's a cultural phenomenon that only fans of the product can understand. Japan actually has a sub-race of people that only know how to do this. I kid, but it's true. The only other people in America that do this are either watching a new Star Wars/Lord of the Rings film or are waiting for an iPhone. And maybe a concert. But mostly Apple products.

I've waited for one or two movies before. Star Wars: Episode 1 was my first "line" and I've done a few more since then. But when I got the phone call from Gamestop to come and wait in line for Grand Theft Auto's midnight release at 6p.m., I almost immediately felt the need to go home and do laundry or dishes or clean the litter box. I mean, come one, six hours?

The Halo 3 line was pretty boring last year. We all stood around (some people brought chairs) and we were all pretty bored. Some JMU students brought books to study before they wasted their life away for days with the game. Some brought their DS/PSP to game on. Then there was that woman trying to sell that awful Halo 3 Mt. Dew for four times the actual price. The only positive thing that happened in line was when Cold Stone came out and hooked a small group of us up with free fat ice cream.

I know though that if I don't show up there at 6pm, I could be waiting well after midnight to get into the store and walk out with the game. And with expectations across the country for GTA4 to be a bigger release than the highly anticipated Halo 3, we're talking a couple hundred people in town tonight all ready to rape digital hookers and jack virtual rides (if that's what they choose to do).

But my thoughts are leaning against waiting and going home and doing some work in the basement. And of course some Mario Kart and Call of Duty.