Get the full scoop on the Australian GameCube launch event held in Chadstone! NOW WITH PHOTOS!
Finally, after many delays and waiting, it's finally HERE. The PAL version of the Nintendo GameCube is in Australia (complete with handle!) for everyone to enjoy. I went to the EB Chadstone launch to check out the hype and excitement (and competitions) of the night.
Arriving at Chadstone with my friend (and convenient workhorse), I made sure I had my overalls and mustache on, like most normal people there did that night. I'd dressed up as Luigi, but quickly noticed that there were all sorts of people there, from really short Mario Bros., to Link, to Gannondorf, to a fairly short Hulk Hogan with bubble wrap muscles. I'm serious.
After checking the place out, we noticed that there were about five or so demo GameCube kiosks to play or check out, along with a nice huge LG Flatron widescreen TV on the main stage. This TV was hooked up to a GameCube with a copy of Super Smash Bros. Melee (but it also had other games in it throughout the night). A few people would be called up by their GameCube pre-order number to compete head to head. The first prize mentioned was a pack of games consisting of Rogue Squadron II and two other games. 16 people were called up, and the four winners were to fight each other for the games. The winner of the games stepped forward to claim them...and the MC called for a challenger to try and steal the prizes from him! The challenger stepped forward, and Smash Bros. Melee was setup to have a custom battle on the Mute City level. The two players selected Link and Mario, and the battle began - with two massive sized players! For three minutes they battled each other valliantly, the challenger lost and the three games were given to their rightful owner. The challenger didn't go away empty handed, however - he was given a third party Controller and Memory Card.
Throughout the night, guests were given showbags containing a demo disk of GameCube footage (for use on the PC), a nice King Size Cadbury chocolate bar, a Chuppa Chup, a GameCube pamphlet, a GameCube sticker and a GameCube poster. There were also heaps of promotional boxes and posters (which were all taken within minutues once the signal was given that it was okay to take them). Some of the promotional material included boxes with Pikmin on one side (with the slogan TRIPPY!³), Luigi's Mansion on another (with the slogan EEEEK!³), Super Smash Bros. Melee on another (with the slogan KAPOW!³) and the good old PRE ORDER THRILLS³ on the final side. There was also an awesome Rogue Leader stand with space in the background and a flying X-Wing floating in the middle (an eager six year old was struggling with it), Rogue Leader and Smash Bros. Melee posters which were gone almost instantaneously along with empty GameCube, controller and Gameboy Advance Cable boxes.
Just before midnight, all the people who'd dressed up were called up to win a free GameCube bundle (including yours truly). The crowd decided who was the best by cheering for their favourite dressed up characters, and in the end it was a three place showdown between a guy in a Chewbacca suit, a guy in a monkey suit with a DK tie and an incredible Princess Toadstool. Naturally, the Princess won. (She damn well deserved to - she later told us she made the entire costume herself!)
With ten seconds to go until launch, the crowd counted down - and then the first EB customer was presented his Nintendo GameCube by the head of Electronics Boutique for Victoria. After a bit of microphone squeal, he thanked Nintendo, EB and everyone there for his GameCube, which consisted of a bundle and about three games. Then people were sent, about five at a time, to collect their own GameCubes. Lucky me had ticket number 73. After finally getting my GameCube, we got home to play Burnout, Dave Mirra 2 and Luigi's Mansion - finally getting to bed at 5:30am.
All in all, a great GameCube launch.
Pictures from the night:
She's Holding a Turnip Behind Her
Well, At Least the HEADS Look Clear...
