With the release of Metal Gear Solid 4 just a few hours away, I was left wondering what you’re doing to prepare yourself for the release. Are you one of those people who takes on a ritual in order to enjoy and savor the fact you just stood in a line at midnight for the next hot gaming title? Perhaps you’re just one of those gamers that rips the shrink wrap off and throws it into his console for the next 30 days of nothing but gaming heaven. Regardless of if you’re the first or second guy, I’m pretty sure you’re stoked for midnight.
A buddy of mine has a midnight tradition he undergoes every August for Madden as well. He’ll line his gaming room up with anything he can that features the Dallas Cowboys and then pops the title in to bring the atmosphere to life. It looks ridiculous and we joke about it, but that’s his thing and what he enjoys.
Considering this weird ritualistic happening, I got to wondering about how other individuals go about getting ready for a huge midnight release. What better place to find out than our very own forums, where gamers have been discussing this title for what seems like ages. We’ve asked a few members to see what procedures they take before playing that freshly printed title and we’ve included them below for your enjoyment.
“For a game’s release, I stock up on tons of Soda. I don’t want to have to get up in the middle of something ground breaking to quench my thirst. Heck, I even take off work (seriously), if I can’t get off work, I actually think about quitting. I then invite a few friends over to share the opening experience of that first cinematic.
MAJOR ritual: Call my friends and see if they preordered, if they didn’t, I laugh at them and tell them how awesome the game is.” – Alphaboss
“Well recently, I’ve had to undertake a new ritual before gaming. When I get a newly released title everything must be in place and quiet before I play. For example, when I got Uncharted, I waited until we put our boys to bed and then cleaned up the living room. After that, I turned off the lights and removed the game from its case as though it were the center of life, careful not to smudge the back with my fingerprints. I then placed the case on the table next to my ice cold beverage, turned up the volume and started to game.
This is usually when I get a new game. However, it doesn’t happen very often due to having unpredictable kids, but hey that’s gaming from a father’s perspective.” – Faceless
“Well, if I’m going to do an all night session, I have my mini-fridge within an arm’s length of me, stocked with 6 cans of Red Bull and I have a large bowl of crisps ready to satisfy my hunger during my gaming binge. I make sure both my controllers and my headset are fully charged before I start playing. I keep my headset charger next me as it only lasts for 3 hours of talk time. This way I can charge it up quickly. Oh yeah, I have to be sat or laying comfortably, but not too comfy because I have fallen asleep in the past.
That pretty much covers it. Food, energy drinks and a comfy situation are all it takes to satisfy my nightlong gaming needs.” – Womble
As for myself, I plan on picking up my LE copy tonight. I’ll listen to the soundtrack on the way home to hype myself up even further, and then just enjoy it for a couple of hours (yeah right!) before I get some sleep.
What I want to know from our readers is; what are you doing to prepare for the long night of gaming ahead? Don’t be shy either, if you’re planning on cosplaying as Solid Snake, sitting on your couch in the dark, and playing until the sun comes up, let us know.