Console Launch Memories: The Longest Line

What's the longest you ever waited for a console?

Last week, we shared our memories of the first consoles we bought with our own money. And being the amazing fans that you are, you responded with tons of fantastic stories of your own. As we continue to move closer to the release of Xbox One and PlayStation 4, we're going to keep this nostalgia train rolling, this time focusing on the longest we ever had to wait for a new system. Here are a few of our console launch memories, and be sure to share your own in the comments below.

Fran Mirabella III, Director of Video Production

It occurred to me the other day, that working at IGN for 13 years, my console launch experience has been really weird. In my teen years I got my NES, SNES, and N64 thanks to mom. PlayStation, GameCube and onward was all via IGN. So, the longest I ever waited? Four-plus hours at the Wii launch, November 16, 2006 at Universal City Walk L.A. And, of course, I was working behind the camera. Which is why you won’t find me in this IGN Weekly Episode 6 video.

Still, I had to wait with everyone else and, as I recall, we didn’t get a chance to pick up our systems until nearly everyone else had snagged theirs. It’s always magical, no matter what system or even when you’re working -- but it’s still weird. I didn’t even get to bring my system home for days until I got back to SF. My first official Wii boot-up was at the IGN LA offices in Culver City. Well, at least my Wii U launch was all mine to experience. That was the shortest I’ve ever waited in line…but that’s a story for another time.

Rich George, Executive Editor

I honestly haven’t waited for too many console launches, primarily because I tend to wait for each console to survive its launch slump. There are two exceptions to that rule – I bought both Wii and GameCube on the first day. Part of that could be attributed to games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Rogue Leader, and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Part of that could be attributed to simple Nintendo hype. Regardless, both situations played out in remarkably different ways.

With the GameCube, I reserved my system well in advance, but there was last-minute panic on my part when issues like color allocations and bizarre bundles started creeping into what will likely always be my most anticipated console launch. Indigo hardware? Third-party controllers? Mandated games? I lucked out – there were only about 15 people in line that morning, I only waited for about an hour, the last black GameCube went to me, and my local game store was relatively flexible on switching out third party accessories for first party. In contrast to the Wii launch, the GameCube was a dream.

Perhaps it was sheer stupidity. Perhaps I figured only 15 people in my city cared about console launches. Perhaps I didn’t think Southern California could be very cold at night. Whatever my assumptions, waiting for Wii at launch was terrible. I didn’t pre-order. I didn’t try to travel to a smaller town. I simply went to my local Target at 8pm, saw about 40 people in line, and started waiting. With no guarantees. With no plans for late night weather. With no sense of anything other than the fact that I had to own The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Fortunately I had some friends to rely on for errands, and despite the fact that neither individual bought a Wii, both ended up waiting with me overnight, and alternated acquiring various goods for our collective well-being and survival. We ended up with one blanket to alternate between the three of us, and I believe one or two lawn chairs. But that was after waiting hours in cold weather (we were slow learners), and perhaps it’s not surprising that I ended up with a severe cold in the days that followed. I bought my Wii, and ended up being one of well over 100 people waiting in line by the next morning, but I could barely play Zelda because my health basically mandated extensive rest. Go figure. I suppose my only solace was the fact that Nintendo’s insanely popular, experimental system was incredibly hard to find in the weeks and months to follow. So that was something.

Chuck Osborn, Managing Editor

It was the Christmas of 1982 and all I wanted in the whole wide world was an Atari 5200. Sure, all the "intelligent" gamers had an Intellivision and the ColecoVision was the hot new gaming harlot on the street, but I was sticking by my boy Atari. The problem was, my parents said I could ask for one gift. So I asked for an Atari 5200...and three games. What the hell was I doing asking for four gifts, my dad asked. Well, the pack-in game was Super Breakout, I explained - I mean, c'mon!

So Christmas morning came and I beheld my first Christmas miracle: an Atari 5200 and three extra games (the names of which, like most everything associated with the Atari 5200, are long forgotten). My parents explained that they bought the extra games because they knew I had no friends, emotionally scarring my already fragile ego. Then the miracle soured when I discovered that the 5200 had the worst analog controllers known to man, making every game barely playable. Long story short, I caused the great video game implosion of 1983 by wanting an Atari 5200.

Jose Otero, Associate Editor

The act of buying a Nintendo Wii within the first six month after launch was easier said than done.  I didn’t pre-order a Wii, and worse, I naively thought to myself, “I’ll get one in February. It won’t be difficult to find at all.” Blame ignorance if you want to, but it’s a natural consequence of hindsight.
And then it happened: January rolled by. Then February came and went. Months passed and I couldn’t find a system anywhere. I lived in New York at the time, and even the Nintendo World Store didn’t know when to expect more systems. People would line up in the morning just to see if a shipment arrived the night before. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this. I had an easier time buying a PS2 when it was supply constrained.
I finally bought a Wii in June, just shy of a few months before my big move out to San Francisco. I randomly walked in a Virgin Megastore (remember those?) and purchased a bundle for much more than I should have paid. I supposed the good ending to this tale is I finally got a Wii. It just took almost eight months to happen.  And as for my reward? Sure, a higher than expected price tag didn’t help. But I also grabbed a copy of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Paper Mario and WarioWare: Smooth Moves. So at least I had good games to play.

Jared Petty, Associate Editor

When I was seven, I watched wide-eyed as friends led Mario through oceans, castles, and mushroom forests on the new NES. Obtaining a Nintendo became my mania. I pleaded. I clipped Wishbook pages. I wrote letters to Santa. I even invoked divine intervention, praying that God would send me a console.

My parents were baffled by my newfound obsession, convinced I would grow out of it. In their estimation, video games were an expensive fad. Three Christmases came and went while Link, Samus, Mega Man, and Ryu Hayabusa all passed me by.

In 1989 my family moved to rural North Carolina. I was the new kid at school, cursed with thick glasses and a lisp. I spent mornings fighting with bullies and lonely evenings playing with my dog. Then a car ran over the dog.

I guess my parents decided to try buying me happiness, because that Christmas an NES appeared under the tree. Echoes of my screams of joy are still resonating through the eastern Appalachians.

So now that we've unpacked all of our console launch emotional baggage, it's time for you to share your own. Did you spend a frigid night outside of a Circuit City in Flint, Michigan to get your PS2? Continually try and fail at buying a Wii the season it released? Spent a sleepless Christmas Eve excited about the 3DO that sat under your tree, only to be crushingly disappointed by the fact that you got a 3DO for Christmas? Sound off below.