Ballou HS Rocks the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Caps Thankful for Varly in 2-0 Win
Thanks to This Week's Advertisers
The smell of Red Bull wafted over H Street NE last night as gamers lined up for the midnight release of Grand Theft Auto IV, one of the most anticipated video games in history. By 11:45 p.m., about 50 people were in line at the GameStop at 817 H Street NE, for the release of the newest in the popular and controversial video game franchise, which is expected to gross $400 million in its first week. A total of about 80 people came through the doors by about 1 a.m. The Hechinger Mall store also had a midnight release, as did GameStops all over Maryland and Virginia and the rest of the country.
Those in line were mostly male and young, 18-30 or so, reflecting the game's "Mature" rating, and were carded with their purchase. Gamers mostly came in small groups of friends and the groups didn't interact much with each other, nor were there people in costume like at Star Wars openings. Some had paid $5 to reserve the game ahead of time, but the store didn't sell out of its 300 copies.
A Red Bull car pulled up before midnight and employees handed out the drink, then doors opened and the otherwise deserted shopping center was filled with hubbub, with a few customers allowed in at a time. One latecomer, a GW student, said he reserved a copy at a store in Arlington, but came to H Street when that store didn't have his reservation.
The game, which has received some of the best ratings ever from video game websites, and even the New York Times, follows a Serbian immigrant in "Liberty City," a city based on New York. The game's map is huge, and players can choose to complete any number of missions. Previous games had characters playing as California gang members in the 1990s or as 1980s Miami drug lords, and allowed players to do virtually anything, with an emphasis on crime — shoot various weapons, steal and 'supe up' cars, take passengers around in taxis, cause or fight fires, and drive cars, boats, bikes, planes, hovercraft, and more. There were more menial tasks too, like eating, going on dates, working out, and in this version, using the internet and even going to comedy shows — Ricky Gervais performs at a comedy club in the game.
The game is now available at stores around the area for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 game systems.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
I remember back when I used to have time to play video games. [sigh]
Fortunately in a few years BabyRat will be clamoring for a game system and she won't get much resistance from her dear ol' Dad.
Video game consoles are the new breasts; made for the kids, but Dad ends up playing with 'em most of the time.
The Best Buy in Tenleytown has a veritable wall of them for both the 360 and PS3. Just walk in and buy a copy, no reservations necessary.
I gotta wonder how many of those guys either live in their parents' basement, are wanted for delinquent child support payments, or both.
ewww
Pre-Order, delivery!
i hate to bring up the race card, but that's the most white faces i've ever seen at that shopping center. i never liked stopping at that subway during the day, let along lurking around at midnight to buy a videogame.
but then again, maybe it's just because i'm a girl.
oh, and monkeyrotica, i'd say at least half of them.
@Hillrat: I will be plagiarizing your line about game consoles.
I sure hope none of these people called in sick to their high paying socially important job.
If you pan out a little further, you'll see the line of muggers queued up and waiting for 12:01 so they could get their copy of GTA IV.
"Hi, I'm Bob. I'll be your mugger tonight"
Erincarly there are 9 black people in the first picture alone. And every other picture that features more than one person has at least 2 black people, usually more. How many black people do you need?
We can't be everywhere. We've got other things to do.
I pretty much gave up gaming after trying to kill that stupid flying dragon dealie in Metroid Prime. Fortunately, the very next day I discovered youporn dot com, so it's all good.
Anybody want a slightly stained Gamecube? Didn't think so.
Monkey,
RedTube...check it out. You will thank me later.
fafou: Seven. We need seven more black people.
The only video game I like is Parappa the Rapper, but that's because I'm so old school and hardcore.
Hillrat: Here's hoping that Babyrat doesn't discover Grand Theft Auto anytime soon. Girls are NOT the targeted demographic.
Big L - Thanks, but the "talent" looks a little too "clean" for me. Much prefer the homelier types bumping uglies. That, or folks with severe physical disabilities, like guys trying to get some while writing a novel with their left foot.
RedTube...check it out. You will thank me later.
A new low, swapping porn links in the comments at DCist!!
@connie dobbs
GTA4 will be stashed along with my Gimp mask and other "Daddy stuff".
@fafou
i hate to bring up the race card, but that's the most white faces i've ever seen at that shopping center.
This part is still correct though.
atmosphere @ the 930 then home for some GTA action. first time ever since i was always a loser who picked the wrong gaming systems ("no dude, gamecube is totally awesome. i mean, look, its got tiny discs and it's purple!") big time geek out night for me. can't wait. rock!
Parappa is "old school" now?
Parappa is "old school" now?
To a 20 year-old? Hell yeah!
Didn't Jim Anchower get a Game Cube? That's pretty damn good company right there, bra.
My morals will not allow me to purchase something that glorifies the lifestyle of big-time criminals. But there's nothing stopping me from playing the game! In fact, I'm on my way over to my friend's house to get crackin' on that!