The Nintendo Wii was officially launched in the US, Sunday November 19th. How can I proclaim this fact so confidently? A few months prior, my son had downloaded a Wii doomsday clock, which proudly counted down this fateful day on our desktop. Truthfully, I was somewhat looking forward to the console, but I couldn't deny the joy both my older sons had and played along with the enthusiasm. Almost daily, I received information about the system or it's games as excitement built.

The plan was simple; intelligence had been gathered and cross-referenced with the launch by Sony a few days earlier. It was noted that preordering wasn't necessary that there should be enough units to satisfy demand on the 19th. It was also determined that camping out in front of a store was also not necessary, but "maybe we should get there a bit early just to be safe". Best Buy was the target store which opened at 9:00, with a few other stores close by as alternates, just in case.

At 7:30am, we rolled up upon what seemed like organized chaos. There was a line of people, dressed warmly, wrapping around from the front of the building along the side. Employees were out directing traffic as people were scattering around like a disturbed ants' nest. "Ahh shit - better hop out here" I directed to my son, sensing the need for urgency. He got out as I found a parking spot and hustled toward the end of the line. What I saw next, has played out in my mind at least a 100's times since then.

GO! GO! GO!

As I was briskly making my way to the end of the line, time froze. Then in slow motion reminiscent of a WW2 movie when the hero gets shot, my son extended his arm and allows a feeble old lady in front of him as she was having trouble making it up the sidewalk. The echo of me shouting "Noooooo!" echoed off the side of the building and rebounded in the far trees startling a few mocking birds causing them to take flight.

I shot a look to my son, then the old lady, as I stepped in line myself as idle chit-chat inevitably begins. Looking around, I notice a cross section of people. The college student and friend; the mom looking for the hot item to stick under the tree for her young son; A mid-eastern fellow who seemed just to be happy participating in such an event; and of course the 40 year old dad, who still plays the older games accompanied by his son, whose sole mission is to play the latest Zelda game.

A buzz begins as it's learned that there are only 102 systems at this location. Glancing down the line of people, I tell my son to go count. Roughly five minutes later he's back noting that there are 94 people in front of us. "Go count again" I say, getting a nod of approval from those behind me. "Yep, 94" as a sigh of relief falls over our spot in line. As we sit there in a lull of false confidence, an announcement is made that tickets will be issued at this time and those who are not buying a system, please step out of line to get an accurate count. Great I thought, "weeding out the riff-raff, making the numbers in line less - good move". Then in a split second, I feel a sharp kick to the stomach as I witness other people coming out of their cars and standing in line. What?! people were holding spots for other people? This can't be good. I shot a nervous glance at the mid-eastern guy who quickly countered with "We're number 94, we should be ok". I see the counting has started. About ten yards in front of me, one of the employees is counting up as his buddy was carrying the ominous sign "THANK YOU - BUT WE'RE ALL SOLD OUT" to be placed at the end of 102.

Defecating in a KFC Bucket never felt so right.

"94-95-96-97.. 98-99-100.. 101... 102! and you sir, are 103" - Gutted right there, as I hinted a little smirk from the dear old nice lady in front of me. Damn! she knew what she was doing, didn't she? Groans followed from behind me, but then a glimmer of hope reared its head. The employee then gave out to me a ticket which had 103 printed on it, but in big black marker, it said "ALTERNATE #1". Upon clarification, these were used inevitably since there were always someone whose credit card was declined or someone having second thoughts. In fact, we were assured that for the PS3 which they only had 48 units, they made it to the 3rd alternate and that most likely there would be quite a few today. Yes! I felt just like Charlie Bucket who had another chance for the golden ticket.

The 102 people where let into the store @ 8:00 in which we were told to come back at 9:00 and show the alternate tickets for further instructions. Soon we will be inside the chocolate factory.

As we hopped into our car and headed for the nearest Wawa for hot chocolate and blueberry muffins, we were mildly confident reflecting on what was said about being an alternate. As we returned another line was forming, but was more casual and less urgent. We nodded to the other alternates as we smugly answered questions from those lowly people just showing up with hopes of getting a Wii. Ha! Who are these people not knowing what had just taken place the last few hours. You think you can just pop right up here in mere minutes before the store opens and having a remote shot of getting this system? This was going through my head as we stood side by side with our noses pressed up against the glass, as we watched those with proper tickets jubilantly buying their Wiis and their Wii accessories.

Things were well under way, when we were finally admitted to the store. There was a line starting to the right of the store, which meandered through the back then funneling into a heavily secured aisle which contained the Wii, games and other items of interest. The alternates kept each other in the loop as info slowly streamed in. We stayed entertained by playing demo PS3s and I had also played a bit of Guitar Heroes 2. YYZ never sounded so bad as I strummed along for the first time with this game.

About an hour passes as another employee begins to round up the alternates and places us in a roped off area to be counted and noted. Yes, finally sequestered from the masses. We knew things we going to happen and happen fast. At around this time, we learned that all the Zelda games and additional wiimotes were sold out, crushing my son in one fell swoop. We nervously chatted as we glanced at the dwindling Wii line. Alternate #3 noted how odd it seemed to see people standing in line waiting for a gaming system. He was Polish and in a thick accent retold stories of him standing in line waiting for food. The gravity of that statement should have hit us all like a ton of bricks, but nervous energy was at play, and the hours of standing around had numbed our senses. The conversation then switched to High Def TV as we began to play with one nearby.

More minutes pass, as I'm knee deep in conversation with Alternate #2 about who and how the Berlin wall actually fell. He had been there and had wonderful stories of his stay, when I looked over and saw Alternate #4 mesmerized staring at what turned out to be the local Major League baseball team's center-fielder walking buy shopping. "Bet he gets one" was overheard.

So, there we were roped off talking and learning more about each other as the line came to and end, as an announcement was made over the loud speaker for the alternates to meet at the front of the store. This was it! Someone obviously screwed up their finances. When we met at the front, we were coldly told by someone who obviously wasn't privy of our lengthy adventure of might and fortitude, that all were sold and we could go home now.

What? that was it? No I don't think so. In an act of desperation I walked towards the back and boldly stood in line as if I belonged. The other alternates sensing a man with a mission, followed. As the line ended the guard took my ticket and showed it to someone obviously in charge who then gave the ticket back to the guard and nodded. The guard came back and explained how all the units were gone, but we were free to look over the remaining merchandise and could buy whatever we wanted. With purpose the alternates moved forward with me leading the charge. we mildly perused the game selection discussing each one. And oddly enough as if trying to keep our minds off what had just happened the last 4 hours, we began to talk about baseball. Baseball!? We weren't here to discuss sports, we were free to go home, but something held us there, grasping for some sort of justification. and then.. it came.

A tap on my shoulder revealed the one employee from the beginning of the morning, who asked me if I was the first alternate. Upon confirmation, he announced that it looks like there will indeed be one unit not claimed. A roar of excitement filled the aisle as the alternates were excited. Excited that one of their own has persevered. That it was most certainly worth the wait. Just then my son, who was looking through the games, shouts "bingo!" as he pulled out from the back of 47 Madden games, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Ah yes, the obvious employee ploy of hiding a game in with the commons. The rest of the alternates cheered as I recall one of them asking a good lottery number to play, in jest. I muttered "103", to much laughter.

The employee came back with news, that the person in fact wanted the Wii but was over in the toaster aisle looking at toasters. All were accounted for, none were declined. Although we didn't get a Wii that day(nor have we yet to this writing some weeks after this day) we made some friends and heard some wonderful stories. And all wasn't lost as well as my son did get his game. I recently got a call from my son saying Target will be getting a truck in tomorrow which might have some Wiis on board and if we could go early and wait. I'm kind of looking forward to it.

So close. Yet, so far.

December 2006

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