Okay Im sure a portion of us have lives, I mean work and have kids..as I do. I have braved campouts from the 3DO to psp, and every hot game in between.I can only recall a few that I actually did pre order, and got screwed on those too, from stores selling my system or game to not having enough to hand out (sony). I even remember the 360 launch a guy was robbed and killed after the midnite launch, on his way home. So with that in mind be careful folks. Now, here some things I thought of feel free to add anything you know.
1: Bring a friend, best to have 2, bathrooms breaks and beer or food runs are essential. Unless you make pals with the pimply fat guy next to ya!
2: Something to do...bring a DS or portable dvd player to pass the time.Snacks a must and some heat packets if you are unfortunate enough to be forced outside until opening.
3.A cel phone, talk trash to coworkers,friends and family.Laugh because you maybe suffering now, but brain numbing fun awaits.Plus you can call the stores and ask questions while in line!
4.If you are late, map a route of possible stores that are lesser shopped if you will. Drive by the crowd, make sure they are waiting for the launch, and not a bunch of workers on smoke break.Simple rule of thumb count heads and if it is less than 20 , they will have plenty. Plop down in the back, and wait.
5.Make friends, you never know when it can help. You do have things in common....the Wii. And maybe they wont throw you out of the way when the riot insues!
6.Stores usually kick out vouchers of some sort roughly an hour before release, so NEVER get out of line with less that an hour to go. The vouchers assure you a system.With a voucher feel free to go get breakfast, They are very strict about them, I have seen people drive up and offer money for the vouchers...temptation.
7. If you feel unsafe, about strolling out to ride wait until a crowd goes out or ask an employee to escort you.
8. It may sound odd, but stash your cash in a different spot than your wallet.I do recomend bringing cash, the credit machine crash of 04 was terrible....anyway.Yup cash, at least for your games, some debit cards have spending limits that reject sales over 300$.Ask the angry guy in the toy r us line last christmas.
9. Last but not least, make sure you have reciepts before ya leave. I was fortunate to buy a broken PS2, nothing like having to fight back through a mob to return something.

The launch scene will be different this time I know it, stores have learned how bad these things can go, so do we. Be ready to be pissed off, but remember it will be worth it in the end. Not having a pre order is not the end of the world, systems will ship for 3 consecutive days, sun thru tues, plenty of stuff to go around, just get your controllers on day one and pre order the games!!

I don't have a pre-order and if amazon or gamestop.com let me down I'm thinking of showing up at my local wal-mart at 4 p.m on Saturday do you think that that is early enough?

Great post, Some really useful information that'll be sure to come in useful for the campers

I never thought of the safety issue, keep an eye out guys.

I kinda wish i hadn't preordered online now, i've never camped out for a console before and i think it sounds like a lot of fun

wheres it say consoles will ship 3 days in a row? o.O

Glad to help. 4 pm sounds fine, keep their phone number on speed dial. Dont be afraid to call and ask, more info will be available as the days get closer. Me and a co worker hate each other but the Wii binds us. We planned on checking out a few wal marts around 4-5 pm see how "busy" the launch (if any) will be. But wal mart is open 24 hours so, a midnite launch is inevitable. Throw the yellow pages in your ride, we all have like ten extras Im sure. Wal mart claims to have 100 minimum per store in my area. They will be getting the larger quantities, some 7-15% of 1 million. Target is pushing ps3 so they claim to have 20 units...not likely toys r us and wal mart are getting 4 units pathetic. But wal mart has put out a free launch guide and is hyping up the Wii. And keep in mind the soccer moms and children RARELY attend the midnite launches, they are the ones running from store to store looking for systems the day of the launch. On saturday, I will be in line and online on this laptop,Ill keep ya posted!

Thanks, I think a friend and I are going to wait for it, some one said that their wal-mart is setting up chairs and you show up, sit down, and wait so maybe that's one mine will do. I still need to call though

A VERY close source, manager of a Gamestop, I am a top ten customer in the gaming community out here in Colorado.No one know or spends more than me.He showed me the corporate faxes, my friend.

Nice Info...yeah its a good thing ive learned Karate...if someone come to steel my wii...back off i know self defense!! HAAAYAAA

haha, a live camp-out thread update would be awesome.

We'll have to organise that nearer the time for everyone camping out.

you spelled steal wrong. And in more important news, I likely won't have to camp out

Camp out for your preorder! If you do that, you get all the fun, and you don't have to wait so long!

Agreed ZeroG , the camp outs are fun, its mostly the teenage crowd with a few adults mixed in, dedicated parents, etc. The 360 launch was a bit wild, they ran out of "premium" systems and a fist fight broke out. But dont worry the Nintendo launches i have attended are considerably calm. Mostly groups sharing info, and talking about which games to get. If you do have a pre order it truly does not garauntee a system...it doesnt.Online sure, but stores have sold pre orders if they are sure of a second shipment, in this case, it will ship again the next day 20th. So if you pre ordered at gamestop you still will have to get in line. I was assured that if I strolled in without pre order on the day of the launch I could still buy the wii. More food for thought, they truly cant garauntee anything these days, look at TMX Elmo I preordered that puppy 8 months ago, I didnt get one til a month after the first shipment.

karate sucks u should ov learned capoeira like i did!

thank you this is very good information...dont forget to BRING YOUR MONEY!!!!

Dude that is an insane list, I gotta copy it down so me and my mate remember when we camp out

If we could get some regional group-camp-outs happening that would be excellent!

Yeah i doubt anyone will be doin it in Glasgow

Im down Colorado Springs baby!!lets group up and riot...Im mean wait in line.

You live in Colorado and are a Raiders fan? o_o kind of odd

I agree with Rand, kinda weird. But anyone around KCMO is welcome to join me and my group of friends. My friend David works electronics at Wal-mart, so I know when they will start to line up and everything, so I am set. Then I am having a launch party at my house after the 8 of us get our systems. There will be 'party favors' and everything. PM me if you are intrested.