A Midnight Video Game Release

When we got word of a midnight release for the new Mortal Kombat game at the local GameStop we thought we'd have to see what was going on and check it out. There has to be something interesting going on at a video game release party at midnight on a Monday evening right? Who on earth would be there and what could possibly be going on? Seemed like a good enough excuse to stay up late and investigate.

 We really had no idea what to expect.  Five people? Fifty? One? would we be walking into a mob scene of people wrestling over copies? People in costumes?

When we walked into the GameStop it was pretty crowded. Probably about 30 people.  Loud music blared over the speakers; Metallica, Beastie Boys and Rob Zombie were heard while in the store. Besides that it was pretty orderly. No one yelling, no costumes. For the most part people just waited in lines and played with their phones.

One thing we did notice is that video games are a common ground among the races.  There were Latinos, African-Americans, Jamaicans, whites, and Asians all mingling in the store for the common goal of all night gaming.  Who knew GameStop was a veritable melting pot?

While video gaming may bring the races together, it doesn't seem to be quite as unifying for the sexes.  There were only three females there, all with males and none looking too happy about their present situation.  While wondering what compelled these females to make this journey with their significant other, we couldn't help but think of one of those relationships where both parties are constantly bickering and suspicious of each other;

(F) And where do you think you're going at this time of night?


(M) I'm just going to pick up a video game.


(F) A video game? At this time of night? You expect me to believe that?


(M) Listen that's where I'm going, come if you don't believe me.


(F) Oh? Maybe I'll just do that!

While the crowd was, as expected, a mostly 20's male crowd, there also were some youngsters in attendance.  One child who could have been no more than four was with his mother and father.  Another pair, presumably brothers, aged about 7 and 10, frolicked excitedly about the store while their father played with his Blackberry and mostly ignored them. Hey, we would have been pretty excited to be at a video game store at midnight at that age. (We did notice the older child had a Mets cap on, this combined with being in a GameStop at midnight doesn't bode well for this poor youngster's future.)

With the exception of the loud music and the lower percentage of kids, it was pretty much like any other busy time at the video store. No pushing, no yelling, no one wrestling to get a copy.  No wacky costumes. No fighting, pushing, or shoving. Damn.

Seems like a lot of work for a post to stay up and go out so late on a Monday night though doesn't it?

Not if you're picking up your own copy of Mortal Kombat!