I returned to the Alpharetta Fry's store around 3:45AM to find freezing cold blackness. The employees didn't leave any lights on when they left earlier in the evening. The front of the line was a row of completely silent tents. You'll find the people in the front of a launch line always sleep better than those in the back.

Towards the middle I find List Holder guy, vigilantly standing watch in case any latecomers try to cut into his well organized line. We exchanged war stories. I had missed a drunk guy nearly get arrested, only to be given a warning and sent back to his spot. One of the other guys I met earlier comes over to see what's going on. After awhile he guides me to some folks huddled near the back of the line, eager to hear news of other launch spots and partake of the cookies I brought along as a gesture of good will.

The next hour is spent basically recalling our coverage of the launch to the gathered group. "Tell us more stories!" one girl demands, munching on a pink-frosted cookie.

And I tell them stories. I take web-based writings and spin them into a spoken narrative, which is kind of like reverse-engineering the internet. It makes me feel old and wise, but that could just be lack of sleep kicking in.
The back of the line is where the action is. People need something to occupy them so that the grim reality of the situation doesn't kick in. They aren't getting systems...most of them know that, but at least they can still have a good time.

I pass around my DS so they can watch the Final Fantasy III opening movie. This leads to a discussion about console RPGs, which then leads into a conversation about World of Warcraft between me and another man that I quickly derail. WoW is something that is only important to those who play it. At some point I think I doze off for a few minutes in my comforter-crafted cocoon.

At about 5:45AM people start putting away the tents and cleaning up trash. List Holder guy and an older woman work together, calling out names and maneuvering people into position. It's really amazing how well these people work together. They've know each other for all of a day and a half and here they are creating an orderly line out of chaos in a matter of minutes.
An hour later the sun is rising and the employees begin to arrive, first pushing the line away from the front entrance, and then having them move it back again. I am sure there is some purpose to this, but can't for the life of me figure out what it is.

Then comes 45 minutes of waiting, consisting of staring at the door for signs of life, discussions of the King Ralph theory (If everyone in front of me dies, I get a PS3!), and general nervous chatter. Before we know it, a group of white shirts and black ties are standing before us, announcing, "It's time!'

They hand out 26 vouchers down the line. 20 of the 80gig bundles with the rest 20gigs. No one complains, though I can tell the girl who is number 27 in line is heartbroken. The drunk from earlier is somewhere in the teens, and if not for his second chance at behaving like a grown-up she would have gotten her system. Instead she gets a rain check, along with the 18 other folks in the back of the line.

Despite problems with employees, supply, and weather, I left Fry's this morning feeling pretty good. Some people walked away empty-handed...
...and some, like List Holder here in a pose he called "Cold Black Man", went home with the prize,
but everyone left having had a good time just being there. No shootings, no fist fights, no robbery, and 10 boxes of delicious frosted cookies, 5 of which are still out there in case anyone gets peckish later on. Sounds like a perfect launch to me. Michael Fahey