What the...?

[Heretic Machine]

Pr3F1HZ4R5k

...They waited in line, in below-freezing temperatures, to get a DS game. A DS game! They drove from Georgia to New York City, to pick up a DS game, that will be widely available everywhere. Gamestop, Wal-mart, K-mart, Comp USA, Best Buy... everywhere. Pirates have been playing this since yesterday, for free. I'm speechless. Have gamers really been conditioned to think this way?

[31 Flavas]

Oh come on, and Microsoft fans wouldn't do the same thing to participate in a Halo 3 launch event? Or Sony fans wouldn't do the same thing for a GTA, MGS4, or FFXIII type event?

It's being able to play and be with friends and say, I was there! Ever been to a rock band concert? Same damn thing, but its video games this time, not music.

[Heretic Machine]

Oh come on, and Microsoft fans wouldn't do the same thing to participate in a Halo 3 launch event? Or Sony fans wouldn't do the same thing for a GTA, MGS4, or FFXIII type event?

They're just as crazy.

It's being able to play and be with friends and say, I was there! Ever been to a rock band concert? Same damn thing, but its video games this time, not music.

...But it's not like the devs make the game right there for you. Shiggy isn't sitting at a PC knocking out lines of code.

I mean, I get going to events like this. If I lived in New York, I'd probably go too (if I liked Advanced Wars, anyhow), but driving from Georgia? That is something like a full day of driving, and a full day of driving back. And I guess I'm shocked that this franchise has that kind of die-hard following, I was surprised to see that they had a launch event for it, or commercials.

[Ultima Thulian]

Personally, I am of the opinion that anyone who would sit out in line in poor conditions for what is a piece of widely available plastic piece of equipment/software/whatever has too much time/money/whatever on their hands and lack the necessary two brain cells it would take to rub together so that person would finally realize they are fucking stupid.

I could understand waiting in line for a very rare product (especially if it could be sold at profit) or for something essential, such as blankets or food. But a DS game? sigh...

[Siraris]

No, this is fucking retarded. Halo 3 comes out in September, when it's in the 50's or 60's. It's 3 FUCKING degrees outside. The guy could have gone to any store in Georgia, saved money on gas and food and many other things (which negate the game being free).

I dunno man, there's a big difference between going to a rock concert and standing in line for a readily available video game. Most rock concerts are one time things and more expensive than a $20 game.

I'm sorry, this is beyond fandom, it's stupidity.

It's like the guys I saw once at Best Buy waiting in line at 6 PM when it was about 5 degrees outside a few weeks ago. They were camping to get Wii's to sell on ebay, and when I went inside and asked the guy at security about them, he said "Yea, we're getting like 40 systems in, and next to no one knows about it. They could come back at 4 AM and still get one EASILY."

[JimmyDanger]

There's New Advance Wars?

I'll get my coat and sleeping bag......
and wait 6 months for it to get released here..play-asia.com or dvdcrave.com.au here I come

[31 Flavas]

...But it's not like the devs make the game right there for you. Shiggy isn't sitting at a PC knocking out lines of code.

I mean, I get going to events like this. If I lived in New York, I'd probably go too (if I liked Advanced Wars, anyhow), but driving from Georgia? That is something like a full day of driving, and a full day of driving back. And I guess I'm shocked that this franchise has that kind of die-hard following, I was surprised to see that they had a launch event for it, or commercials.Right, someone that is gonna drive from Georgia obviously isn't going just because they want the free game. They're going because they want to be around for the tournaments, festivities, and gaming fans. Also, Nintendo knows how to party, even when it's Pokemon.

[Karamazov]

That interviewer is really annoying.

[Baron Samedi]

Anybody actually been to the Nintendo store? Pretty fucking disappointing, in my opinion.

[Superman's Dead]

Maybe they just wanted to have fun? I am so very fond of fun...and why the hell not, right?

Just come up with a terrible tragic story. One of them just found his girlfriend sleeping with his brother AND his sister. The other one's dog was part of the threesome, and then got hit by a car.

And all they have to pull them back from the brink of depression is their DSes and a love of strategy gaming...and a full tank of gas.

[TrackZero]

Oh come on, and Microsoft fans wouldn't do the same thing to participate in a Halo 3 launch event? Or Sony fans wouldn't do the same thing for a GTA, MGS4, or FFXIII type event?

It's being able to play and be with friends and say, I was there! Ever been to a rock band concert? Same damn thing, but its video games this time, not music.

Except....it's advance wars....who cares?

[TrackZero]

That interviewer is really annoying.

Wombat from Cheap Ass Gamer / UGO (now he gets a paycheque)? Meh, I never mind him.

[Karamazov]

Wombat from Cheap Ass Gamer / UGO (now he gets a paycheque)? Meh, I never mind him.

Yeah if thats his name. His face pisses me off and his voice is stupid.

[Heretic Machine]

Yeah if thats his name. His face pisses me off and his voice is stupid.

The funniest thing about your post is that there is a decent chance he reads this site.

[31 Flavas]

Except....it's advance wars....who cares?Uh... huh. And people are not allowed to get excited over a new advance wars? Is it really such a surprise that interest in video games exists outside of GTA, Halo, MGS, and FFwhatever? Here's a nickel, noob (http://folk.uio.no/hpv/linuxtoons/dilbert-unix.png). Go buy yourself a better game.

[Skyelan]

At the risk of contradicting 'BUT IT'S WIDELY AVAILABLE' claims... Advance Wars, with the possible exception of 2, tends to disappear fast and stay gone. Probably the only non-Atlus series I've seen that acts like one.

Edit: And for that matter, what the shit. I can think of plenty of DS games that absolutely vanished soon after launch and took a long time to get back in stock. Can we stop acting like they don't ever sell like 'big name console' stuff does?

[JimmyDanger]

Dudes..again..

It's Advance Wars.

For me - there is nothing better on the DS or GBA than - Advance Wars.

Wombat comes off like a goose, the piece lacks perspective , and they chose some of the most random people to interview - all of who fialed to look, or come off as more of a freak than Wombat (who I doubt is Australian, tho his fat and hairy physical form bears a resemblance to a Wombat - the Wombat doesn't often make goofy eyes and roll them back in a "whoah cool" mode unaware that they are by far the uncoolest creature in the room).

So - no historical perspective about how since Famicom Wars days, Advance Wars is one of the most popular long running Nintendo affiliated series' in Japan - or how it broke through the Western market in GBA days, or how Dual Strike was one of the first "must have" titles on the DS - some random guy getting asked what his favourite game in the series is - near the end of the piece.

I haven't opened the DS in a few months now, but hearing there's some new Advance Wars love has inspired me to import a copy (and Phoenix W 3 now I think of it) and play the casual gamer portable N64 device.

[jeffool]

They drove from Georgia to New York CityThat, in itself, is enough reason to drive for Georgia to NYC. It's Georgia, and NYC. That they did it for a game just colors it in a nerd light rather than a redneck "going to see the big city," one.

[Gorvi]

You'd be foolish to imply that the Advance Wars games are somehow lesser games, but it's even more foolish to drive as far as they did for a free copy of a game that would be widely available less than 48 hours later.

[Crowe]

They are not hurting anybody, they were just out for a little road trip and a bit of fun. I love taking road trips with friends, some good times. Waiting out in low temperatures is pretty hardcore but if they enjoyed it then I'm sure they found it worthwhile.

[TrackZero]

Uh... huh. And people are not allowed to get excited over a new advance wars? Is it really such a surprise that interest in video games exists outside of GTA, Halo, MGS, and FFwhatever? Here's a nickel, noob (http://folk.uio.no/hpv/linuxtoons/dilbert-unix.png). Go buy yourself a better game.

Believe whatever you want. If this was for Mario Galaxy, I'd completely understand, but I've played advance wars. It's not "gathering" worthy, IMHO.

Edit: As for that comic, nice. (I'm not usually a fan of Dilbert.) *NIX is better. ;)

[LionEyez]

Hm. I had no idea DS games had launch events at all.

I certainly wouldn't ever be the one waiting in line - I've never even actually bought a game the first day it was in stores, let alone stood outside in the freezing cold. But hey, its their choice...

[Bad_Buddha]

That, in itself, is enough reason to drive for Georgia to NYC. It's Georgia, and NYC. That they did it for a game just colors it in a nerd light rather than a redneck "going to see the big city," one.

Agreed. It's an event. How many events like this do you get in Georgia?

Besides, how many EvAver's flew, drove, took a train across the country to go to PAX. :p

I've got a nephew that drove with his buddies across the US to see a dozen or so games at different baseball stadiums. I'm certainly not going to call him stupid and say "It's just a freakin' game, idiot!" It's his passion. How many people put their fantasies on the back burner and never get to do anything fun.

You'd think that a gaming forum would show some game geeks a little slack. :rolleyes: