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« on: December 06, 2006, 06:40:12 PM »
This is an article I wrote for my school paper detailing my Wii experience:
I arrived with my friend half an hour after midnight and there were eight people waiting in line already. With 62 units of Wii in stock, it would be a struggle to attain a Wii during that cold, cold night. Seeing my breath in the air, I was thankful I wore my warmest jacket and brought my extremely cozy sleeping bag. As we set up our "camp", unfolding our two lawn chairs at the end of the line, we grinned wildly at each other. It was going to be an interesting experience, we both knew. We brought out our Nintendo DSes handheld system and played several ravishing rounds of multiplayer Mario Kart against many of our fellow campers.
It was around this time that the line grew longer, as more and more Wii-wanting individuals showed up. To my dismay, several annoying sophomores were in line right next to me. An interesting point was when they began to argue with each other as one had laid his head on top of a banana peel the other had unceremoniously placed on his pillow. I avoided this and went to In-N-Out Burger which was a godsend. I could see the steam rise out of each fry as the sultry smell wafted in the air. The crispness of the burgers and fries was a boon onto my soul.
One factor we had not planned for was a bathroom situation. It was most unfortunate for me, because I had a sprained ankle and had to limp all the way to In-N-Out. Unfortunately, I had bought an extra-large pink lemonade... and In-N-Out closed at 2:00 A.M. I held my own though (no pun intended), while others may or may not have went to the back of Best Buy to conduct business.
It was around t his time I realized my warmest jacket may not quite be warm enough as I began to lose feeling in my arms. I snuggled into my sleeping bag to regain some warmth. It was then that I began to notice how massive the line had grown. Over 70 people were in line, many laughing with their friends while watching episodes of South Park on a laptop.
The mood of excitement died down a little bit as boredom set it. It was then I took out my guitar and began creating songs about the Wii and how “Wii want[ed] it wiilly wiilly badwii.” At first, I wasn’t sure if people could handle my “Wii Puns of Mass Destruction”, but it turned out everyone was in a light mood, laughing heartily at my little bits of silliness.
As the sun rose, people began to get even more excited (albeit in a tired way). At around 4:30 A.M. the first Best Buy employee came to prepare the store for opening. Loud cheers were heard as he opened the doors, followed by loud boos as he closed them. An hour later, even more employees showed, and began making a line of demarcation between those who would get a Wii and those who wouldn’t. The cut off was at 62 people, and many people were unfortunately turned away. But not I. I was on a Wiision (mission). An employee began taking the names of people checking I.D.’s and made sure that there was only going to be one Wii purchased per household. Those of us who remained in line then received a special ticket which had a number and our name on it. I was the magical number nine.
I asked an employee when the store would open, and he informed me that it would open around 8:30 A.M., a half an hour early. The anticipation grew to mammoth proportions, as did my need for food and a toilet. I traveled to Starbucks and I raced out with a blueberry muffin and a pumpkin spice mocha.
As I got back, time slowed to a crawl. I’m not sure if it was the caffeine or the mere two hours left, but I’m certain someone stopped my watch’s ability to tell time as it seemed frozen. The two annoying people behind me in line were shivering and struggling to find warmth in their shorts and t-shirts. I almost felt sorry for them.
As the clock struck eight, my heart began beating. We had to clear our “campsite” and we were now standing in line for our hearts’ utmost desire. My heart began to beat a little bit faster, and we all felt very anxious as the moment arrived. I began filling out precisely which games, and the amount of controllers I wanted on a pamphlet we were required to fill.
Finally the doors opened and a man beckoned the first customer in. With abated breath, we all watched as he disappeared inside the store only to come out five minutes later with a Wii held tightly in his arms like a newborn baby. We applauded the brave endeavors of this man, and he held the box up to everyone’s excitement. People were let in two by two, and finally it was my turn. I nearly cried. I was first greeted by a man whom I gave my ticket to. To my surprise, a security guard wearing a bullet-proof vest was there to make sure no one was exiting with any unpaid for items. I passed him pumping my fist to give him a nod of support. I was directed to a table on the right side of the store, and behind it were about a million Wiis (give or take 999,940). I handed them the list of my wanted items and that was when I received it. I had gotten the Wii.
After paying for it, and being asked six different times by five different people if I wanted a two year warranty plan for $39.99. Nintendo already has one of the best customer service policies around, so with a nervous smile, I replied “no” each time. As I walked out, I noticed how bright the sun had gotten. I got a handful of cheers as I was the “guy who played those funny songs.” I held my new best friend close to my heart and with a triumphant glee I shouted “Wiiiiiiii!”