Gaming Steve Episode 72 - 06.15.2010 Not Dead Yet ... Follow Me On Twitter Diablo III to be Announced This Week Gaming Steve Review: Keep on the Shadowfell GCA and ESA Fight Over E3 Awards Maxis Responds to the Spore DRM Controversy Vivendi, Activision-Blizzard Snub ESA, E3 Grand Theft Auto IV Quick Observations How to Sell a Grand Theft Auto Clone: Gary Busey Ubisoft Announces a New Prince of Persia Game Interview with Will Wright, Part One Interview with Will Wright, Part Two Pictures and Podcast from GDC Spore Archives Will Wright's Spore Forum Podcast Episode Archives What is Podcasting? Subscribe to the Show (using iTunes) Subscribe to the Show (using another podcasting software program)
Classic Culture GameCube Interview MMORPG PC PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 Podcast Poll Portable Preview Random Review Spore Stuff Wii XboxNovember 22, 2005
Xbox 360 Launch Party at Best Buy in Midtown Manhattan
It was wet and freezing cold, but that did not deter several hundred people from standing in line outside the Best Buy in midtown Manhattan for several hours/days in order to be the first people on earth to own an Xbox 360. Of course Gaming Steve was there covering the event, chatting with the people on line, and getting very very wet. Check out my photo coverage of the event, and make sure to check out my podcast where I interview and chat with the all Xbox 360 devotees pictured here.
The scene of the madness, it doesn't look too bad...
...until you went around the block and you saw the line...
...that wouldn't end!
On the line we have #1 and #2, aka Peter Gonzalez (left, doing an interview with USA Today) and Michael Hamplton (right). Peter started to wait on line since early Sunday afternoon and hadn't slept in 36+ hours, and he looks it.
Next to #2 was #3, David Carbone (right), another one of the walking weary.
Numbers #4 (Joe Delia), #5 (Paul Gelardi), and #6 (Dan Gelardi) stood in line together, so at least they could leave the line from time to time and take a break. Oh yeah, that is an Xbox logo painted on Joe's face.
At 10:30 pm the line moved up to the front of the store, which definitely perked everyone up.
David (#3, right) compares notes with another 360 "member of the line".
With just under an hour to go Jason Hartje (#7, far left), Dan (#6), Paul (#5), and Joe (#4) are pumped!
Okay, it's cold and wet, time to go inside the store and check out the setup.
Of course Geek Squad members Ray Sitorus (left) and Michael Abraham (right) need to "get familiar with the product", so they played some Madden before the big event.
Best Buy really had their act together, everything was all laid out and ready to go.
That's a lot of controllers.
Xbox Live accessories ... check.
Memory units and faceplates ... check.
HD cables and wires ... well, you get the idea. There was a lot of stuff.
Even the staff was pumped for the event.
And there they are, a small mountain of Xbox 360s numbered and ready to go behind each cash register.
Another small mountain of 360s.
Five minutes to go until midnight they start to let the first eight people into the "waiting area".
And the doors are opening!
And they're off!
The first group got a huge round of applause from the entire Best Buy staff, they were really excited to get their unit (and to get out of the rain).
Okay, thanks for the applause ... where's the damn 360!
Peter was the very first person in the world to purchase an Xbox 360 in store, and here is that historic moment (by the way, he also got Perfect Dark Zero).
Packing up the 360.
Oh yeah, he did have to buy it (no freebies for Peter).
But at least he got some change.
Sure he hasn't slept in 36 hours, but he said it was all worth it. Not only did he get another big round of applause but he was interviewed by around 30 different members of the press -- it took him 20 minutes just to get out of the store.
Michael (#2) looked refreshed and ready to go and play!
David (#3) getting a unit.
Joe (#4) won the award for "most Xbox branding".
Jason (#7) wraps it up.
Half an hour later and the line is still there, and it's still raining.
An hour after midnight, still raining, still waiting.
An hour and a half ... Okay, time to head home and post this sucker.
Wow! Thats a lot of people! And a lot of 360 accesories! It looks like the launch is going by pretty smooth. Thanks for standing out there in the rain for us!
So when does your 360 arrive Steve? ;-)
Posted by Pilot4Life at November 22, 2005 03:09 AMI got mine as a preoder from EB and I have to say I am enjoying perfect dark quite a bit. I played a coop game with someone online.
Setting up the machine was quite easy and I even got a cool blue face plate for mine!!
:(
I didn't get one...
Wifey wouldn't allow this time around. (sigh)
Oh well, at least I got love ehh? :)
Steve, did everyone get one that wanted one, or did they have to turn people away?
Posted by Barista at November 22, 2005 05:56 AMThat's nice coverage. Good work Steve!
Posted by Chris at November 22, 2005 06:40 AMI've got too many bills to pay off first, but asap, I'll be getting mine and delving into NBA 2k6 and plenty of Oblivion... by the time I get it, hopefully it'll be out.
Grats to all those punks who could get one already!
Posted by Bildo at November 22, 2005 08:29 AMWow man you rock well done
Posted by Brian at November 22, 2005 08:55 AMWow...heh, kudos to you Steve for standing out in the rain with them, and not even getting an Xbox. ^_^
Posted by SenseiJinx at November 22, 2005 09:20 AMLucky guys..
Posted by Ryan at November 22, 2005 09:31 AMWow.
That sucked badly. I went to a walmart last night. We were told we couldn't form a line. That being said, a line DID form regardless an hour later. At 8:00PM the manager came out and handed us TICKETS. The way it should be done. I got mine, #6. They only had 34 prem and 14 core. Came back at 11:45, got in line again. Low and behold, 360!!!!!
All inside and not in the cold.
Thank you walmart(The place I have been to for all the launches)
SoulMan
Nice set of photos...I personally don't think I'm going to get a 360 until something really really catches my eye. Definately will get a Revolution and PS3 when the time comes though. Launch events are always fun/interesting to look at even when you're not excited about the product yourself. Very cool.
Posted by robotplague at November 22, 2005 12:26 PMThat USA Today reporter looks hot. ;-)
Nice photos, can't wait to hear the 'cast. Looked like fun despite the rain. I'm sure everyone thinks these guys are crazy but what the heck, right?
Posted by Gregg at November 22, 2005 12:31 PMI played PDZ and did a co op mission online and I really had a lot of fun with it.
I have been playing Kameo and Condemed as they are both good games and I have been downloading trailers for movies from the market place.
I really like the xbox and I like the play and charge kit for the wireless controller.
My next task is to hook up my ipod to my 360!
Posted by Lazerbyte at November 22, 2005 02:26 PMi just came back from runing all over the mall there was 1 left in bust buy i got it!!yaaah!!:)
Posted by peter at November 22, 2005 05:48 PMman the next XBOX will cost as much as a brand new comp lmao and the controls will still be as blocky as ever, keeping my original Xbox, cuz its my DVD machine heh.. only way I'd keep updating in consoles is if I couldnt shoot worth a damn using a mouse and a key board lol
Posted by Yoyort at November 22, 2005 07:06 PMThese people are fools. The Xbox 360 is not worth it. I have had a dev kit ( I work for a game studio ) for over a year now and the hardware is just not that impressive. They should have gone home had a cup of cocoa and bought an Xbox 360 when the PS3 (which the dev kits for this suck even more then the 360 ) comes out and the price drops down a bit. Oh well. I guess I shouldn't complain because I am sure we sold a lot of copies of our games. Go stock go. Great pics btw :)
Posted by Andbeer at November 22, 2005 07:16 PMwhy should people wait if they have the money by your reasoning noone shoul dbuy a ps3 and rev until July 2007
the truth is perfect dark is a great onkine game with sooo many modes
game like oblivion being belayed is probaly a good thing as when it comes out there will be loads more people fetting a 360..
then we have the gears of war bundle :-)
oh and obviously the halo3 bundle late 2006
Posted by mike at November 23, 2005 06:03 AMSomeone get Peter a chair he looks like hes about to pass out. Awsome pics and good work Steve.
Posted by Atari Man at November 23, 2005 05:32 PMThose people will do anything for a Xbox 360!I think there kinda nuts....
Posted by DARK CLOUD at December 8, 2005 02:35 PMIn alabama I waited in line for 10 hours at target and I still was unable to purchase a X360 because they only got 10 units and i was 14th in line. Luckly I met a guy that night who was selling them on EBay. so 100 Miles, and 500 dollars later I got X360 Core UNIT "unopened w/reciept" ...
Posted by statusphere at December 19, 2005 06:08 AM