Grainy photos possibly coming soon. Can't get them off my 3DS as my PC doesn't have an SD slot and i don't recollect where my adapter went.

Anyway, i went there, to the one near the Century III mall in Pittsburgh. Took 2 hours and 45 minutes to get through, play both versions, and out.

Not too much ability to get a bead on things, especially since the control scheme was kind of confusing (used to A being jump on 3DS, after all), so it took me a bit to get in the groove of things. 3DS version had the "Smash" mode glitched out, so the only version attendees could play was Smash Run, which was fun, if a bit chaotic. Event bosses appear, similar to City Trial. In my case, a large Bulborb (Pikmin) came on screen. Fights are fun, but quick. Should be good fun once i've had a chance to get a feel for the controls.

Wii U version was electric, a total blast. The demo had, i think, the 20 characters from the tournament yesterday. Again, there was a bit of initial awkwardness as the Nintendo reps had brought a quartet of Pro Controllers, which i've never used actually, so there was a while where i was trying to do Kirby's Stone attack and kept doing his d-air instead . I still won the first match as Kirby, against Rosalina, Villager, and i think Little Mac. Second round I chose Wii Fit Trainer, who i hadn't seen anyone ahead of me in line choose, against Samus, Greninja, and Marth, where i evened out on KOs and falls and came third place.

Still, incredible. Controls like a dream.

Played Metroid II on my 3DS, spotpassed a bunch of folks. Couldn't get any of my irl friends to join me, unfortunately, though the two guys behind me in line were pretty cool (and i ended up playing with them).

I'd really recommend it, just show up early.

Was there a lot of people?

2 hours 45 minutes for me to get from the back of the line all the way out, so assuming the last approximate 5 minutes of that was us playing, 2 hrs 40 minutes from the back of the line to the front. Assuming roughly five minutes (every quartet got to play 2 matches at 2 minutes each), there were about 128 people in front of me when i arrived, and an equal (or slightly larger) number behind me when i left.

Oh god i thougt 2hours 45 minutes was the time it take you from your house to the closest Best Buy.

Hm, I am in the Pittsburgh area and should've taken advantage of it, but even then it's a 1hr 40 min bus ride to and the same back to/from West Mifflin from where I'm at. Sounds like a good time though.

Good lord!

did anyone from here go to any of the Best Buys in Minnesota?

maybe we saw each other

Any truth to the story folks were offered coupons?

Why couldn't they just do something like a small timed limited demo on the eshop? Reach far more people with less effort.

They're trying to get to people who don't already own a WiiU.