BKK2 on 29 April 2008
UK: London
GTA IV launch mayhem
We braved some of the store openings at midnight last night...
Sony will be pleased. The massed ranks of drunken chavs at one local Tesco last night was itching to play the game on their PlayStation 3 consoles - more it seems than those wishing to play the game on Xbox 360.
Yes we braved some of the midnight openings and it was as scary as getting involved in some of Nico Bellic's adventures.
At one local West London Tesco store the mood was ugly just before midnight. The store was only holding 33 copies of the PlayStation 3 version and 27 copies of GTA IV on Xbox 360.
So just sixty copies for over 100 very grumpy people waiting in line.
There didn't seem much in the way of organization by the store, with mixed messages on how the game was being distributed. Were they taking names? Some said yes. Others no. A lot of the customers there were drunk or stoned or both. There was an ugly mood that made one think any minute a fight could break out - just for a videogame?
A few miles away at a large ASDA store the story was pretty much the same. The store sold out of its allocation almost immediately at midnight and the car park was awash with angry people wondering where to go next.
One might argue that GTA doesn't cause crime, but it certainly attracts a certain criminal element judging by serveral late night openings we took a look at last night. There were plenty of people carrying "gear" of various sorts and spending time before the game was released by shoplifting.
The eight am store opening at another local (non-24 hour) Tesco was sedate and well mannered by comparison. With people chatting in line waiting for the store to open.
But just 20 copies would be available.
How did Tesco organise distribution of these games? Well people slid under the big rolling door as it opened and legged-it as fast as they could to pick up a copy. Very civilized.
Again at this opening most seemed to be interested in getting hold of the PlayStation 3 version. Which left some smug looking Xbox 360 owners not having to run for their copy at all.
Worryingly many of the people queuing at eight in the morning were mothers looking to pick up the game for their children. When questioned on their feelings towards age ratings they offered the usual "it's only a game" excuse I heard a lot when I worked in retail.
That's the worrying thing about such content and children in the UK. It's not that the warnings are failing to get across, it's just that many parents know the score but just don't care.
So quite a sobering and interesting evening looking at the madness of the GTA launch. A world a way from the polite and jovial atmosphere at the last midnight launch I covered - which was for PlayStation 3.
Did any of you brave midnight store openings to get your copy of the game?
We braved some of the store openings at midnight last night...
Sony will be pleased. The massed ranks of drunken chavs at one local Tesco last night was itching to play the game on their PlayStation 3 consoles - more it seems than those wishing to play the game on Xbox 360.
Yes we braved some of the midnight openings and it was as scary as getting involved in some of Nico Bellic's adventures.
At one local West London Tesco store the mood was ugly just before midnight. The store was only holding 33 copies of the PlayStation 3 version and 27 copies of GTA IV on Xbox 360.
So just sixty copies for over 100 very grumpy people waiting in line.
There didn't seem much in the way of organization by the store, with mixed messages on how the game was being distributed. Were they taking names? Some said yes. Others no. A lot of the customers there were drunk or stoned or both. There was an ugly mood that made one think any minute a fight could break out - just for a videogame?
A few miles away at a large ASDA store the story was pretty much the same. The store sold out of its allocation almost immediately at midnight and the car park was awash with angry people wondering where to go next.
One might argue that GTA doesn't cause crime, but it certainly attracts a certain criminal element judging by serveral late night openings we took a look at last night. There were plenty of people carrying "gear" of various sorts and spending time before the game was released by shoplifting.
The eight am store opening at another local (non-24 hour) Tesco was sedate and well mannered by comparison. With people chatting in line waiting for the store to open.
But just 20 copies would be available.
How did Tesco organise distribution of these games? Well people slid under the big rolling door as it opened and legged-it as fast as they could to pick up a copy. Very civilized.
Again at this opening most seemed to be interested in getting hold of the PlayStation 3 version. Which left some smug looking Xbox 360 owners not having to run for their copy at all.
Worryingly many of the people queuing at eight in the morning were mothers looking to pick up the game for their children. When questioned on their feelings towards age ratings they offered the usual "it's only a game" excuse I heard a lot when I worked in retail.
That's the worrying thing about such content and children in the UK. It's not that the warnings are failing to get across, it's just that many parents know the score but just don't care.
So quite a sobering and interesting evening looking at the madness of the GTA launch. A world a way from the polite and jovial atmosphere at the last midnight launch I covered - which was for PlayStation 3.
Did any of you brave midnight store openings to get your copy of the game?
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