Confession Friday: Dreams and Launches

Mephisto Mori/ November 15, 2013/ Video Games/ 0 comments

Today is a special day, not just because of the confession post or the PS4 launch.  It’s special because it’s my son’s first birthday.

Copious amounts of gaming, writing, and debt didn’t stop my cute little kid from achieving this hallmark.  Maybe I’m doing something right.  Maybe parenting is easier than folks suggest.

Fairly certain I just got lucky with a good woman and a surprisingly cheery kid.

On to the confession.

There was a moment last night where a friend posted on his Facebook about waiting in line.  By 6 pm yesterday 20 people were already lined up at Best Buy in Brookfield, WI.  According to the next few posts this number increased exponentially.

At 6 pm yesterday I was still at the Job That Pays the Bills and thought, “who lines up that early for a midnight launch.”  The answer was simple though – me two years ago.  I briefly considered joining him in line after I was finished with work and then dismissed it.  I had neither the time nor money.  I considered ways of procuring the money.  Then I dismissed all thoughts of doing it resigning myself to wait for Christmas or Taxes.  I have a kid now after all.

Well this morning I woke up feeling good about my decision, excited for my son’s first Birthday.  Then I checked Facebook.  The first thing I saw was a photograph of his PS4 triumphantly placed on his entertainment mantle (it’s not a center anymore – it’s a podium of honor and conquest).

Instant jealousy.  I’m still seething with envy.

The second image I saw was of another friend’s acquisition lovingly belted into his car.

Safety First

 

I’ve endured several launches.  Stood in many-a-line in my day.  For those of you that may not be local fans – November is cold in Wisconsin.  Only the die hard and the driven stand in retail lines outside once winter weather hits the midwest.  Okay, I’m exaggerating.  We have Packer fans, Green and Gold body paint is considered winter attire at Lambeau Field.

My favorite console launch wasn’t the one I spent in line though.  Wasn’t the 360, Wii, or PS3. It wasn’t even the WoW launch where I received the last copy in the state of Wisconsin (according to the Gamestop employee).

It was the PS2.  I didn’t even stand in line for it.  It was a Christmas present.  I had dropped hints to my estranged father about.  I may have even suggested that it would make up for 14 years of being absent in my life.  By God it did.  That’s how good the PS2 launch was for me.  Maybe because I didn’t pay for it myself.  Maybe because I didn’t really think I would get it.  Probably both and more.

So I’m clearly not an absentee father.  I wonder what my son’s first console present will be like.  I’ll start him with a handheld first.  When he’s old enough to respect electronics, he’ll get a Gameboy Tri-Screen XL 4D or whatever they have by then.  But then I’ll joke about how broke we are for one particular Christmas.  Get him a bunch of clothes and hide a New Console X in my closet wrapped in a toaster box or something.  After he’s opened every disappointing sweater and bag of socks, I’ll spring it on him.

That might be the best launch yet.

Oh, and Santa, if you’re reading this… I would like a PS4 for Christmas.

 

Share this Post

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.