Pokémon Platinum Launch Madness
Good God, would you look at the wrinkles on my face? I'm far too old to be getting my picture taken with a Pokémon... But hey, how else are you guys supposed to know how insane the launch event was for Pokémon Platinum this past Saturday, March 21? Nintendo World was a complete madhouse, and you couldn't even get inside the store unless you were going to buy the new game, but to do that, you had to stand in a line that still stretched halfway down the block, even three hours after the game went on sale!
"At 10:30 last night, there were four people out there," said Seth McMahill, product marketing assistant manager for Nintendo, and "Nintendo Spokesperson" for the day. "And by the time I got in this morning, probably around five o'clock, it started building. And the next thing I knew, I turned around, and it was two blocks down. It is unbelievable."
And that's just the line to get into the store and buy the DS game! I haven't even started in on the chaos that spilled out into Rockefeller Center! If you couldn't make it down there, then make the jump, because I've got all the details, and some pictures, too!
The line started at about eight on Friday evening, but the game itself didn't go on sale until 11:00 on Saturday morning. The event started at noon, and although the line went from stretching around the corner to halfway up the block, it never got much smaller than that! Nevermind that the game would be available at stores across the country on Sunday — these diehard Pokéfans wanted to start playing now!
Around the corner from Nintendo World, a section of Rockefeller Center was cordoned off to house the festivities. On the main stage, a hostess asked the gathered fans trivia questions that were a breeze for the crowd. They know their Pokémon! In front of the stage was a ball pit, and those kids who came in costume as their favorite Pokémon were given a chance to go diving in to dig for prizes. It turned out to be harder than you'd think, although everyone came away with at least an autographed copy of the game. Those who were especially lucky came away with a special Nintendo DS Lite!
There were tables set up where you could play the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and if you didn't know how, they'd happily teach you. Giant inflatable Pokémon were just hanging around so you could pose for pictures with them, although Chimchar and Piplup were wandering around for photo ops as well. Pikachu was up near the ball pit, so if you wanted a picture, you had to go to him. Diva. There was a series of fun carnival games for the kids to play, and when they got tired of that, they could color pictures or relax on beanbag chairs and watch the newest Pokémon movie on some flat screen TV's. Then, at the very far end of the area was a little demo station where if you waited long enough, one of the kids playing Pokémon Platinum might, and I mean just might, get bored and give up, letting you have a turn to try out the game.
There was also a slightly sketchy member of Team Rocket wandering about, and I've heard stories that he was actually infecting people's games with corrupted Pokémon posing as downloadable gifts from Nintendo, but I don't know if he was responsible. I did, however, witness McMahill fix someone's corrupted game and return the DS to the very, very grateful child, so clearly something was going on!
Nintendo employees were handing out Giratina masks and backpacks to folks as they wandered around, and although I felt like I was too old to be playing Pokémon, I have to say the crowd ranged from six to 60. Honestly. Despite this franchise's age, its popularity shows no sign of waning. Although I will proudly declare that I was able to escape without purchasing a copy of the game this time... mostly because Pokémon Platinum is just an enhanced version of Diamond and Pearl, which I've already played. If it had been a completely new game, I'm not sure I would've had the strength to resist trying to catch 'em all all over again!
Wootini
Posted to Galleries, Hot Stuff, Video Games on 23 March 2009
· Comments (12)
Other stuff like this: ds, gallery, launch event, nintendo, nintendo world store, pokemon, pokemon platinum
That's awesome, Woot. Thanks for going there, for all of us who can't!!
The first photo is so cute! :)
Whoa Pokémon on the big screen. Looks like a lot of fun.
I dont know who cuter, although my money is on you.
Wow have to agree with Arthur on that one!!
What a cutie... and then there is Chimchar!
Hey, you're cute! And I don't mean the Pokemon there. :)
Nice pics, look kinda fun. (And it makes me kinda relieved, when someone of my age goes to Pokemon events I don't have to hide my new "Robin" action figure, heh. ^^)
These are awesome pics, I wish I could have made it. You're looking fantastic Woot. :)
Marry me! I don't mean the pokemon!
That little girl in the pink jacket posing with the Piplup in the last picture is so precious!
I feel so conflicted with my mixed feelings of joy at seeing enthused, happy little tykes, and my feelings of nausea at the celebration of this unworthy, half-assed, cash cow clone.
how many kids did you have to push into the ball pit?
Thanks for going Wootini!
Wrinkles? All I see is well-aged hotness.