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'Metal Gear Solid 4' Launches With (Surprise) a Big Party

by Evan Shamoon on June 12, 2008 at 01:43 PM



Long before people lined up for the launch of new cell phones, they lined up for the launch of new video games. And in fine fanboy tradition, Los Angeles' hardcore showed up for the midnight launch of Konami's long-awaited Metal Gear Solid 4 -- all for the chance to buy the game the minute it went on sale, and to have it signed by some of the game's creators.

The 400-odd person line stretched around the block at the Best Buy in Hollywood, at the busy corner of La Brea Ave and Santa Monica Blvd. At the front of the line was Tony (see gallery), a young man who had waited for nearly 24 hours for his chance to get a copy of the game. We asked him how it was going.

"Yeah, I'm sleep deprived," the bleary-eyed Metal Gear superfan told us. He looked excited, but a bit defeated. "The crazy thing is, I had my PS3 stolen a couple of months ago, so I don't even know where or how I'm gonna play it once I get it home." At this very moment, as if by some spectacular twist of fate, Konami PR manager and all-around good dude Jay Boor stepped in and, upon hearing Tony's tale, handed him his business card. "Hit me up, man," he said. "I'll fix that. I'll definitely fix that." Amidst all of the conspicuous consumption, the look on Tony's face at that moment was one to be remembered.

All the while, press and industry folk mingled in the surreal urban courtyard, surrounded by such bastions of retail consumption as Best Buy and Target, feasting on sushi and various foodstuffs from Baja Fresh. And as they drank and ate, the diehard fans stood long into the night, patiently awaiting their chance to play what assistant producer Ryan Payton called, "the best Metal Gear game we've ever made. Pants down." And all in all, it was a good night.

MGS4 Launch: Los Angeles


Tags: metal gear solid 4, MetalGearSolid4, new, new products, NewProducts, playstation 3, Playstation3

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