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Our launch coverage began on the eve of
November 18th as GameCubicle.com took to the road for midnight GameCube
launch festivities. Destination... Babbage's in Natick, MA. Located in the
Natick Mall, this Babbage's held more GameCube pre-orders than any other
store in North America. Midnight launch sales were taking place all across
the nation this night - coincidently during the most spectacular meteor
shower in recent history.
 With
over eight hundred consoles and thousands of games reserved, the
midnight launch party was a spectacular sight to see. Hundreds of Nintendo
fans showed up many hours in advance of launch, eagerly awaiting the
moment at which they would hold their very own GameCube.
After entering the mall, I realized this was the night I had anticipated
for years. As I walked down the quiet corridors towards Babbage's, all too
appropriate holiday music could be heard quietly playing from above. The
music slowly became drowned out as I neared the store and a mob of gamers
participating in a pre-launch contest that was drawing to an end.
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 Inside
the store, final preparations were being made. Large brown boxes
containing GameCubes were being cut open, piles of games were being
shifted around, and employees were experiencing their last moment of
relaxation before the start of what would be a very long night.
Finally, 12:01 AM. The doors were opened and the first gamers in line were
allowed in. Each customer passed their sales receipt to a clerk at a table
near the store entrance who verified the preorder and sent the customer on
what was surely a memorable walk to the back of the store to have their
order filled. From piles of boxed GameCubes, games, and accessories
stacked to the ceiling, orders were filled and satisfied customers were
turned towards the checkout registers with GameCubes in their hands. The
tedious process would last many hours past midnight. All the while
hundreds of customers, mostly aged from 12 to 20, were waiting patiently
outside. Among those on line were a couple of parents with young children,
fathers waiting alone, a few grandparents, and even one dedicated gamer
with a broken leg.
 More
fortunate than those still waiting in line outside store, Glen Scrima was
one of the first out of Babbage's with a GameCube of his own. Glen, 20,
placed his pre-order with Babbages nearly a year ago and having finally
gotten his hands on one he couldn't wait to go home and play it. Asked if
he objected to GameCube's label as a 'kiddy' console, Glen commented,
"I think a lot of games just span many ages. Many people say 'I'll
never play Mario because it looks like a little kids game' but it's really
still fun for adults. It's all a matter of opinion." If he could
change one thing about the system, like many of the customers we
interviewed, he would have liked DVD play capabilities. As for what he
most wanted out of the GameCube, Glen replied, "something that brings
gaming to the next level... not just graphics wise but something
new." GameCube should deliver just that.
 Another
satisfied customer and long time loyal Nintendo fan, Neil Boland, 18, had
been waiting for GameCube since last December. Neil commented,
"growing up with Nintendo, I just love all the games they come out
with," as his main reason for selecting the GameCube. Neil's looking
forward to playing Tony Hawk 3 as well as a number of the system's sports
titles. In the long-term Neil firmly believes the GameCube will lead this
console generation.
Back in the store, Phil Crawford, 18, was holding his own jet black
GameCube waiting to check out when he talked with us. He most wants
"quality games" from the system and is particularly looking
forward to Resident Evil. Next to Phil, Shawn Keeler, 16, chose the
GameCube because he liked the games and the feel of the controller. Shawn
was also very impressed with the size and low cost of the system and was
looking forward to Internet play. Questioned why he didn't opt for the
Xbox, Shawn replied, "Bill Gates doesn't need the money. [laughs].
At the end of the night, many tired but satisfied gamers headed home to
enjoy their brand new GameCube consoles for the first time. It had been a
long night for many but most would agree, well worth it. GameCube has
launched.
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