SPECIAL REPORT COVERAGE: VIDEO GAMER X GETS PLAYSTATION 2

Well the big day has finally come to pass, the day Playstation 2 Launched in the United States. If you haven't gotten one yet, then you probably won't get one for awhile. I myself, was told my both the places I pre-ordered the system from, that I wouldn't receive it at launch. Undaunted, I challenged the naysayers and I braved the elements to obtain my system. I can proudly say I am an owner of Playstation 2, on the launch day and I can say I'm very lucky to be. I am willing to share my epic story of triumph and divulge the secrets of the Playstation 2 from a Hard Core gamer's point of view. This is a special series of articles that will Preempt coverage of Majora's Mask for the time being to bring a special presentation of a gaming event.

As it were, I wasn't satisfied with all the BS that I had been put though with Babbages, so I remembered the fact that many retailers were getting the system, and would only give out so many at launch. I made it a quest if you will to obtain this system, no matter what it takes. I went to my local Wal-Mart, and they commented that they wouldn't be getting any, which as it turned out was a lie, and then I visited a Target store and discovered that they would have 20 systems at Launch, and since they weren't on Pre-Order it was first come first serve. That was my gameplan so on Wednesday evening after work, and went to Target just to see what the deal was with Playstation 2, if there was anyone there. As I approached the entrance of the store I noticed that there were some people occupying a campsite in front of the store near the entrance. There were lawnchairs, portable TV's, food, blankets, sleeping bags. I asked rather sarcastically, "so what are you all waiting for?" and they said, "Playstation 2" , my eyebrow raised, and then I was like, "uh, yeah" and got in the line right behind them.

At the time it was about 8:30 PM in the evening, and the store didn't officially release the systems until 8:00 AM the following morning and already there were about 16 people mulling about. I took a count and planted my carcass right behind them in line. I got to meet some interesting folks just because of situational familiarity. We all knew why we were there, and what it was we were waiting for. We shared a common bond. I first talked with an Asian guy about the Playstation 2 and how good our chances were of getting one if we stayed in line until morning. I said, "well, I may not know you, but by come morning we will probably be best friends." He laughed and agreed. I also struck up a conversation with a 15 year old boy and his father who were both waiting for the system as well. The father had mentioned that he visited Ebay and someone was selling a guaranteed launch day Playstation 2 w/ extra controller for a whopping $1650 on Ebay! That's ludicrous, but I surmised that when rich kids tell mommy and daddy what they want around Christmas time, I suppose price is no object. I mentioned to my new found friend, I'll call him #12, because he eventually got ticket 12, behind me, I had #11, how I would remember back someday and tell my kids that I actually spent the night sitting in front of a Target Store just to get a Game System.

Mind you, the setting of this whole experience takes place close to the door of a Target Store by the parking lot with the big sulpher color street lamps on the poles lighting the whole parking lot up at night. As it passed into 9:00 and 10:00 PM, more people showed up and the line grew longer. We were the Die Hards willing to wait in the "nevermoving line" just for a game system. There soon appeared some rich kids from the beaches that replaced some of the folks up at the front of the line. They had this black car, that had the Sound/Video System to end all Systems. It reminded me of that car from when I was a little kid on that show called Nightrider. These guys had dash and vanity mirror (or at least where the vanity mirror would be) mounted TV Screens. They had a Playstation hooked up in there and were playing Gran Turismo in their car! We regular folk had to sit outside with whatever we could find to entertain ourselves. These guys also had some kind of satellite hook up in the car as well including 4 large SubWoofers in the Trunk, encircled by special green lights, and neon underneath the car. Another guy had himself a nice brand new Mazda Miata. There was this model-beautiful blonde girl with them, and they brought with them some kind of mini-greyhound (rat-dog is what I called him), probably a puppy greyhound. These were #2,3, 4 and 5 in the line for Playstation 2. The the guy in front of me was there with his friend and girl friend. He looked to be a senior in high school. They guy sitting next to me, #9, was kind enough to give my two of his Chalupas because he didn't went 'em. Thanks man.

At 10:00 the Target Store closed down for the evening. We continued our vigil. #12, the Asian guy, with his younger brother #13, lent me his Cell phone, and I radioed home for reinforcements. I left a message with a family member that I would be "Pulling an All-Nighter" and would need a chair, blanket, pillow and some of my favorite gaming Magazines. That was around 10:00. I didn't receive the stuff until 1:00 AM until that family member came home and received my message. For a good 2 hours I sat on hard pavement. I found myself wandering over the Steak and Shake across the Parking Lot for periodic cups of coffee. I wasn't worried about losing my place because it was well known who was where, we had this unwritten pact to defend our space. There was even discussion of the fact that some idiots that came later on might get the idea to bum rush us and take our spaces in line before the store opened in the morning or try to mug our Playstations when we left. This never happened.

There came a point where no more new people entered our line. The excitement of the evening was when this dishelveled drunk man or junkie came up to our group and beseeched each one of us for a cigarette - "hey there, can I git a cigarette..." "What are you all out here for?" he asked slovenly. When it was replied that we were waiting for a Playstation 2, he said in no uncertain terms, "Well, I don't need no computers, I have a VCR and that's all I need to watch Pornos" Me and the guys around me all bust out in laugher. I mentioned jokingly, "You know if that guy pisses enough of us off, there's going to be a beat down" and it was generally agreed upon the guys around me that this was a likely unlikely scenario. He continued to pester many of the people in the line for a cigarette and eventually gave it up when he decerned that his efforts were futile. He procured his means of conveyance, his rusty bicycle, and rode haphazardly away before the cops came to arrest him.

The night wore on, and the temperature dropped into the 50's, there was a brisk breeze that was plasting us with cold Air, as it were the family member that brought me a blanket brought me the crappiest one we had, with many spaces between the knitted weaving. Great, I thought, might as well have a fishnet. I was wearing an orange T-Shirt, and I found it to be very cold. I was shivering in the cold, and questioned my own sanity for a moment on why it was I was sitting in front of a Target at 2 in the Morning, but I reassured myself that Playstation 2 was worth the temporary inconvienience. Many folks attempted to get some sleep, and in fact those with very warm cozy blankets, fully folding lawn chairs, and sleeping bags were able to get to sleep. My efforts were in vain however. I attempted it several times, trying to find the most comfortable uncomfortable position in this outdoor chair my family member had brought. It was to no avail, this just kinked my back and there was always something sticking it to me, so I decided upon the cold cement as an alternative, so that I could actually lay fully straight. This too was an effort in futility and I only skimmed sleep, falling on the fringes of REM sleep, and then awakening again. It was just way too cold, too hard, and I was already wired thinking about the Playstation 2. I eventually got up and sat in my chair for the next three hours, until people started getting up around 4:30 AM and the manager of the Target each gave us numbers on cards with an official store stamp at about 6:00 in the morning, #1 though 40, they had only received 40 Playstation 2's. I was number 11. Yay! We all scattered and recharged knowing we didn't have to sit, lay, stand in that God forsaken line anymore, because we were guaranteed a system. I drove back home at quarter to 7, and came back to the store and quarter of 8, before it was going to open. I again enountered the same crowd that had just been there before.

At 8:00 AM, the store opened and the Manager, gave out all the Playstation 2's to everyone that had tickets. I received mine, and my moment of triumph had arrived. I had finally received it. Overall, the Playstation 2 gear that I got was, an extra controller, a memory card, Summoner, Kessen, Madden NFL 2001, and Tekken Tag Tournament. I also picked up "The Matrix" DVD, as I it was my favorite movie, and I had to have it on DVD. As of writing this article, I have had no official sleep since 8:00 AM Wednesday Morning, it is now 1:47 AM Friday Morning. I have braved the elements, I have went to work and almost passed out, and have come home to hold my prize in triumph over my head and share my experiences with the rest of planet Earth on my Video Game websites. Yes, I went the extra mile to get my system, and so far I have been handsomely rewarded. This story adequately demonstrates the qualifications it requires to be a Hard Core will-go-the-extra-distance Gamer. I fall into that category. Coming Tomorrow, I will explain my experiences with Playstation 2, the system itself, and the Games that I have. All, hail the almighty Kessen!