dukeburger

If you're reading this for actual detailed coverage of the event, you're in the wrong place. This is just my own personal experience.

It was fun, although slightly disappointing. I went with a friend, and we arrived at about 10:20 am. The line waiting to get in for the game was already pretty long. We didn't get inside the store until noon. It didn't feel all that long though; we had fun chatting with each other and some of the other people on the line.

Anyway, they announced that signed copies of the game would be given out at random when you buy it (basically, you go up to the counter, they grab a game for you, if it happens to be signed, then you win, although you still pay for the game). I didn't get one of course, although someone right behind me did (figures). The reason that was disappointing was because Nintendo made it sound as if everyone who got there early enough would receive one. This is what was said on their website and in the email that they sent to me:

Be one of the first in line to purchase Pokemon Platinum, the latest Pokemon adventure on Nintendo DS, and receive a copy of the game autographed by the game developers! (Limited quantity while supplies last)

You can see how that would easily be read as a "first come, first served" basis. I assume that they didn't have near enough signed copies to do that, but whatever. Not the end of the world. I did receive a free Giratina/Shaymin DS case for purchasing the game, although that means that I don't get the Giratina figure now that I would have gotten with the pre-order.

And as I'm sure a lot of people now know, there was that whole mystery gift hoax. I can't believe I didn't notice that, seeing as I was emailed an actual copy of the flier from Nintendo. Again, not the end of the world really. When we were inside the store, we heard an announcement saying not to download any mystery gifts, because it could corrupt your game. My friend and I were under the impression that they were having problems with their DS download service (seriously, for anyone who frequents Nintendo World, you know that's nothing new), or that someone was sending out hacked wondercards. Apparently, we were right about the latter. I remember hearing about that happening with the Shaymin event. I really can't imagine why anyone would want to do that, although I suppose I sort of envy the loser who has that much free time. Anyway, we were talking about trying to download it anyway just to see what would happen, although I guess we were just too lazy when it came down to it. So no hacked shiny racist Gengars for us.

So despite all that, I'm still glad I went. I got the game early (not that one day really makes a difference, but I do have a paper to work on tomorrow, and I would have been even more of a procrastinator), I got some free stuff, I hadn't been to Nintendo World in a couple months, so it was nice to go again, and I got to chill with my friend (I don't see him as much now since he left the Island to dorm in the City). After we decided we had enough photos of stupid stuff (like us hanging out with Piplup... lol), we went downtown to the Thailand Cafe for lunch (<33333). I love that place... good food and (alcoholic) drinks, though, it was too early to drink there this time. :p After that, we just chilled at his dorm checking out Platinum.

Unfortunately, all the good photos from the event are on my friend's camera, but here are some I took when I got home:



I actually don't know why I bothered including the game case... but the silly Giratina face is the cardboard hat that they were giving out (and yes, we did put them on, lol...). The thing with the Pokemon Platinum logo is one of those (nylon, I guess?) drawstring backpacks, which were also given out. There was a balloon too, but that got lost on the subway (haha). That other thing is the DS case that they gave out when you purchased the game. I bought the plushies, but I thought that they were appropriate to include in the picture. Pokecenter plushies can still be purchased at Nintendo World for $10, if anyone wants to know (seriously, I always see them going for $30 a piece on teh internets, which is ridiculous).

Here's an up-close shot of the DS case, although it was hard to get a good photo, since it's one of those designs that changes as you move it (which you can kind of see here). Giratina and Shaymin alternate between altered forme/land forme and origin forme/sky forme.



I actually don't know if I'm even going to use it, and I kind of feel like I would have rather have gotten the Giratina figure... lol. :/ This is because I already have what I consider the be the perfect case for my DS, because I can fit my DS and ALL of my games, and because I really like it. I took a picture of it to show why... although I'm sure most guys would disagree with me (the exception being my girly guy friends, of course...).



I got that last year in a gift shop in a Mitsuwa market when I went to Los Angeles (although I guess it's pretty obvious it came from a Japanese place and not Nintendo World, due to the Pocket Monsters logo).

And now I am off to go play Platinum all night, instead of doing more important things. :)