Gamers have a tradition of lining up around the block to catch the latest titles at their midnight release. Is that tradition worth it, and will we be seeing the late-night line in the future? While some gamers are eager to get their hands on a copy right away, others can spare the few hours to pick it up at a more convenient time. Other gamers already have the game, downloaded and installed on their machines and waiting for the servers to go online. So what is the future of the midnight release party? 1UP has the story.
I’ve been to a few midnight release parties, and they were dreadful, dull affairs. I’ve yet to see one of these parties that was, well, a party. I think if retailers want to see more customers in their stores, they would do well to harness these rare times when gamers gather. They really should turn release dates into social affairs, with actual parties and things to do beyond dropping a chunk of paycheck for the latest and greatest.