One thing I’ve learned since joining the team: Never count out PlayStation fans.
Before starting with the PlayStation.Blog, I was well aware of the legendary community events. And I’d gotten my first taste in March, when hundreds of crazed God of War players packed into a big red tent for the PlayStation.Blog God of War III GDC 2010 Meetup and took disturbing photos like this.
But nothing could have prepared me for the size and intensity of yesterday’s PlayStation.Blog E3 2010 Meetup. If I were Chef Gordon Ramsay from TV’s Hell’s Kitchen, I’d have to say I was “gobsmacked.”
The line kept growing…and growing…and growing… Right: The first 150 entrants got one of these wicked signed Kevin Butler posters.
Devoted PlayStation fans starting lining up 24 hours early in the hot California sun, setting up a Sony shantytown of sorts in front of L.A.-based restaurant Cuidad (great, friendly place, tell Annie we said hi!). Eight hours before we opened the doors, the line stretched to 170 fans. By the end of the night, well over 300 gamers had packed through the doors. What a turnout!
Then Metal Gear Solid mastermind Hideo Kojima showed up, and… well, this YouTube fan video below can do a way better job explaining than I ever could:
Hideo Kojima walks into a bar…and gets the kind of reception only Kojima-san can get!
Amidst screams from the fans, Kojima-san gave out five signed Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker PSP Entertainment Packs (but we saved one signed PSP pack just for you guys, and we’ll be giving it out soon right here on the PlayStation.Blog). The E3 2010 Meetup also had a special guest appearance by Arne Meyer from Naughty Dog, who gave away a one-of-a-kind Art of UNCHARTED 2 Folio Edition that was signed by the entire Naughty Dog team. And “Professor PlayStation” himself, Jeff Rubenstein, confirmed that the first 150 Meetup attendees would be attending the PlayStation E3 press conference (that’s tomorrow at 12pm Pacific!) and gaining access to the E3 show floor. At this point, I think my eardrums burst from the screaming.
Record-breaking attendance, a surprise visit from Hideo Kojima, and new games like Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip, Invisimals, and of course, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Sounds like a success to us!
Now only one question remains: What do we do for the PlayStation.Blog E3 2011 Meetup?
I waited for around 20 hours and got 19th place in line and i got hella sun burned but it was all worth it just for the chance to attend E3 and getting to meet Jeff. I also got Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip even though me and my partner lost twice in a row. Any word on when we will get those emails?
Well anyways thank you Playstation and thank you Jeff!
How can I score me one of those sweet KB posters?
I loved it… True people were cutting in line, i saw a lot… But i mean i met some awesome PS fans, got to see Kojima (Hell YEAH!), finally met Jeff and gave him some special gifts from Lebanon ^^, and met Arne from Naughty Dog (Hell Yeah x2) =D
Congrats to the top 150, i was like 166 i think… Hehe…
Enjoy the conference! I have a show floor pass and im sure E3 will be great!
Jeff and Sid thank you for all the work… It was fun and fantastic!
I agree that lines should be respected more next time, but either way its all good…
P.S: Anyone felt that earthquake?! I froze from the fear! :P
wow…. you guys need to speak up to those who cut in line or force yourself back in front of them.
i know for a fact that i wouldn’t let that slide so easily, especially after traveling so far and waiting for hours.
Wtf at rude people talking while Kojima and Jeff are up there…
“Now only one question remains: What do we do for the PlayStation.Blog E3 2011 Meetup?”
HOW ABOUT SOME REAL FOOD!?
Cool =)
GRAN TURISMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I really want to thank Jeff and the tireless team at the PlayStation Blog for their hard work and the genuine warmth they extended to us all last night.
I’m sure wrangling 200 (250? 300?) sunburned fanboys and fangirls was far more stressful than we can ever imagine. As for the infamous ‘list’, I think the two guys who went down the line at 10am, taking down the names of the first 150 people should be applauded. Without them, and without the Blog team honoring the list, many of those who cut into the line – and there was a lot of that going on – would not only have got their hands on the press conference/E3 tickets but, far more importantly, would have walked off with those beautiful prints of the sexiest VP in the industry, Kevin Butler.
Oh, and thanks for using my video in the post, guys – I’m truly flattered! Now I’m very relieved that my English accent, and the boisterous crowd, drown at my rather lame ‘Solid Snake’ joke!
Thanks again, and ‘cheers!’ as we say back home!
Awesome! Glad you had a good time — it was great seeing all you guys!