Fifteen minutes before the Xbox 360 goes on sale in Den-Den Town, two guys in puffy coats walk over to a 360 display. And get this, they stay.

From down the street, I see a familiar face. It's Ichabod. He passes me by, and goes over to look at some PC porno game posters and then stands behind the red tape. He's first in line. I want to give the guy a hug. Celebrate.

Nobody else is in line. There are only like five people, standing outside. Wow, I can count everybody waiting for an Xbox 360 on one hand.

Jingle Bells kicks in over the loudspeakers as the guy next to me snaps off pics with a Canon hand-cannon. The camera is enormous. To my right is a skinny dude in canvus sneakers and a hoodie tucked under a flannel shirt. He takes out his Sony digicam in an elaborate gesture, puts it against his body in one rigid motion and snaps off a photo. He quickly puts it in his shirt pocket in a fluid sweep as if he's a Soviet spy or something. This is ninja shot.

Next to me, the guy with the huge Canon snaps pictures in plain view.

A small crowd has assembled, large enough to count on two hands, but not three. One of guys in a puffy coat fires up a cigarette. He's got facial hair growth, baggy khakis and a skullcap. This the second cool otaku I've seen this morning. Cool otaku smoke.

Ichabod's s getting giddy. He plays with his parka, running his fingers around the collar. He squats, then stands up and squats again. He takes out his cellphone, which has an Ayumi Hamasaki charm dangling off it. He then wipes his nose and smiles. Ninja shot goes over to the vending machine, either to take a digipic or buy a beverage. May I recommend the cocoa. It's delicious.

A exactly ten sharp, the doors open, and the crowd floods in. All nineteen of us.

Xbox Launch [Official Site]