Who knew that my local Target - the Atlantic Terminal location - was to be the location of the company's only Playstation 3 launch event? I popped by to see if there was any sort of line, only to find three-hundred or so people waiting for the three-hundred or so Playstation 3's available at this Target location. (Other Targets won't be getting anywhere near that amount.)
Target set up tents (seen here from the roof of the mall; clever, huh?) with PS3 games and Blu-ray movies and are providing pizza and snacks every hour from 10 to 8am, when the first PS3 will be sold. They're holding a Guitar Hero tournament and giving away prizes, including a Playstation 3.
It was set up to be one of the most pleasant line-waiting experience in the country. And then it started to rain...
First, meet Efrain Marine [left], the very first person in line. He only arrived at noon yesterday - not that bad of a wait, all told. When I found him he was munching a hamburger his boy had grabbed him from McDonalds; he's only left the line to go to the bathroom. Efrain had only a folding camp chair, forgoing the tents and umbrellas of others further down the line.
Perhaps he shouldn't have traveled so light, because...
...we got quite an autumn storm, wetting the folks in the line and blowing rain in their faces. Everyone knew there were plenty of tents set up inside the cordoned off area, to be honest there weren't enough to keep everyone dry even if the event staff would have let them in.
People dealt the best they could. (No, Summer Glau was not hiding at the event as a ninja.)
Some stood in the rain and just took it, like your humble blogger.
The event opens up at 10PM EDT, but because of some vagary with Target's point-of-sale system, the campers won't be able to purchase a PS3 until 8AM. Ouch.
I'm going to try to head up there in the morning, but for now I'm in my dry house eating some dinner, not the least bit upset I'm missing the festivities.
I wonder if all the campers will stay in the stormy night? You might have a chance to take their place if you go out, but I wouldn't count on it.
