Colin played reporter at the recent MGS4 Best Buy Midnight Event in Los Angeles, CA, on June 11, 2008. He recorded his report in pictures and words. Here it is:
G.A.P. Kid In A Candy Store: Dreams Come True In L.A. At MGS4's Midnight Launch
It's nigh June 12th, and all the estimated 500 males in the 18-25 demographic lined up at West Hollywood's Best Buy keep reminding themselves that MGS4 will be in their hands and their PS3s within hours. But there's a few variables that are adding to the tension-building. There are some guests showing up tonight, and they're the reason everyone is here. Bearing the responsibility of a G.A.P.er (Gamer Advisory Panel), I bring it to you just as it happened.
Showing up at around 10 p.m., there are already 220 of the eventual 500 people lined up. My best mate Brook is in rare form tonight, as he has sunk more money and effort into his Old Snake costume. His "Solid Eye" now glows red with light he installed in the eye patch. Everyone's gotta have a picture with him. Everyone.
The line wraps around the side of the building, stretches beyond the opening of the parking structure and away from the light of the Best Buy. Kids are hugging the walls trying to kill time.
I couldn't believe how long the line was with us arriving at 10 p.m., so I took a walk to the front of the line to see what time the first person lined up. 2 A.M. What was even harder to believe was that he had a girlfriend...and she was with him.
After surprising this guard...
...I walked down further to the V.I.P., media-only press party. I informed them that I was there representing the G.A.P. and they informed me that there was a guest list with names on it. They scanned it while looking for my name while I scanned the attendees for recognizable faces. I don't know whether or not my name was on that list, but the next thing I knew, I had a wristband on and my parking was validated. I like to think it was the aura coming off my beard.
It was like a tiny Vegas in there. Bright lights, free food, open bar, and music.
Walking past all the people with jobs that I wanted, I finished off my tacos and beer in time to demo MGS4 a bit before the witching hour. I'll tell you one thing: It's pretty.
Almost as if they were waiting for me in succession, I bumped into MGS4's Assistant Producer Ryan Payton. This guy is pretty much responsible for the western hemisphere's current level of knowledge of Kojima Productions.
Then, I met Kenichiro Imaizumi, the game's Senior Producer. He's got his hands all in MGS4. He also worked on a couple games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Suikoden I and II.
And lastly, the amazingly down-to-earth David Hayter. The voice of Solid Snake. 'Nuff said.
I didn't ask for any of their autographs, because I was at a press party and my friends were already holding a spot for me in line. Once the time neared midnight, the guests disappeared to get ready for the fans. It was time to leave the party and head back to the line. Plenty of kids were jealous to hear of my adventures.
As the line crawled along, so did the time. We had waited an hour and a half past midnight when we were told that there would be no more signatures. You don't even know how heartbroken the line was. It was like I was standing near the Wailing Wall on a bad day.
Over 300 people would not get what they were waiting for.
Our group was close enough to the entrance that we could see them about to cut off the line. Best Buy was kind enough to still let us give them our money without getting a signature. We inched our way to the signing table before being ushered, unfulfilled, to the door.
Right as we were about to leave, someone came and said that David Hayter wanted to take a picture with Brook in his Old Snake costume. Everyone had to have a picture with him. Everyone.
Our group was allowed to fill the very last positions in the signing line, where our waiting was paid in full. Not only were the guests I mentioned there, but also Patric Zimmerman (voice of Revolver Ocelot/Liquid Ocelot) and Khary Payton (voice of new character Drebin).
Satisfied as all hell, I made my way home to proudly add my signed spoils to the rest of my collection. Along with my Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa signatures, tonight's events will give me something to hold over every Metal Gear fan's heads.
Thanks, G.A.P.
No comments:
Post a Comment