How many of you genuinely wait many hours just to have something first? How many of you post on your blogs and facebook about how amazing that item is? How many of you defend this item until death do you part?
It's a part of human nature that I can't wrap my finger around. When I saw people camping out in front of Best Buy just to be the first to have a Playstation 3, only to have a few people killed because of fanatical shoppers, I barely felt any pity at all. Obviously, it was awful for these people to die, but it seems very silly when the cause is because of this need to have something first.
When you get something first, you never win. Never, especially with video game-related items.
First of all, when you're buying something that no one has seen or played before, you're the explorer of the vast unknown: You don't know if it will be worth the wait or a giant waste of time. If you bought the item a week later, there would have been reviews, critiques, and walkthroughs written by then, which can tell you if this product is well worth the purchase. Not only that, but sometimes, some games are so bad and unimpressive that the price can drop drastically even within a week, which could save you those few extra dollars and a few more hours of sleep.
You can even buy these games used after, saving a little bit off of the original price. This path usually isn't the best to take, since buying new items means you get all of the perks the full game had without losing any content (see Batman: Arkham City. If you purchased it new, you got to play as Catwoman as well, where you couldn't if you got it used).
Now, I can't stop people from waiting in front of stores for the next biggest thing... ok, actually, I can, but then I'd become a criminal, and I'm not that annoyed to commit a crime just for this...
Anyway, the reason why people are sucked into this world is mostly because the game is given promise or has some sort of pedigree, whether it be a promising developer or an excellent prequel to this game. Here's an example of such, despite is general failure:
Remember when Duke Nukem 3D was made? In 1996, the developers 3D Realms announced a sequel called "Duke Nukem Forever" to be made in 2000. That year, the developers declared a delay to the release schedule, predicting the year 2002. A few in-game photos were taken, giving gamers hope that the game will still be made. 2002 comes around, and no game is released, to be delayed another few years. A year at a time, new gameplay footage is shown, blue-balling gamers until 2009 when 3D Realms' staff finally are fired from the development of the game, and the rights are given to 2K Games and Gearbox Software. The game is finally released in June/July 2011 and from what I've heard, it's mediocre at best.
From what I can guess... I actually have no idea what happened in the 14 year delay. It seems like Treyarch and Infinity Ward can make a new Call of Duty game every second year, and Bungie is able to make a Halo-related game each second year, and Bethesda Softworks has made 4 games in 2011 alone (Brink, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, RAGE, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim), and yet, 3D realms can't make just one?
Despite is average reception, it still sold more than 400,000 copies, all coming from people expecting something half-decent.
So, next time something big or exciting comes out, please, PLEASE don't make a big deal about it... or better yet, don't even consider telling me how amazing it's going to be. I'll think of you as an 8 year old child who's just trying to get my attention and I'll just think that you're an idiot.
I'll also preemptively apologize to anyone who preorders or wait outside for something.
Thanks for your time.
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