Nerd Overload Consumes Rockefeller Center
Nintendo Block Party. Considering most of the block parties Ive attended in the past were made up of barbecued animals and drunk people, I jumped at the opportunity to see Nintendo add videogames to the mix and finally secure its place within the American gaming community.
Luckily for me, I now work in Midtown Manhattan and the block party would be happening only minutes away, and on such a gorgeous day I was happy to be hoofing it there. I eventually found my way to Rockefeller center and was immediately overwhelmed and saddened; overwhelmed at how many people were swarming the area and fighting their way to the front of lines that seemed to go nowhere - and saddened that I didnt see one barbecue grill anywhere. I suppose Nintendo went the classy route by not distributing beer to the youngsters but luckily I didnt need alcohol to loosen me up; I would soon be drunk on Nintendo World.
There were four lines: one leading to the registration booth for the Donkey Konga 2 tourney, one leading inside the Nintendo World store, one leading to exclusive Pokemon downloads and the last leading perhaps off the Brooklyn Bridge. I chose one and stood behind a friendly, chunky young girl who went on to her mother about all the things she was going to buy. I am happy to say that I didnt end up inside a Starbucks, but instead was ushered into the store where the road to Nintendo mecca begins.
Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was a gold-colored GBA and green-blue counterpart sitting stunningly behind bulletproof glass. Okay, it probably wasnt bulletproof, but what makes this particular Game Boy Advance stand apart from any other is a bonafide signature on its top from the gaming god Shigeru Miyamoto.
I tackled a nearby Nintendo Store employee and asked him what the deal was with this particular GBA and if I heard him correctly above the joyous shrieking from store shoppers, the Nintendo store was selling the specially signed handhelds for $399-a-piece and the store only had around 25-30 left in stock. I honestly debated whether or not to whip out my credit card right then and there and run out of the store with my gold GBA box over my head like Link holding the Triforce, but I had business to attend to. Also, I didnt have $399.
The store is chic and shopper-friendly and, not surprisingly, jammed wall to wall with all sorts of Nintendo goodness from consoles to cards to Nintendo World three-ring binders to clothing to what may have been a loofah sponge with Luigi on it; two floors worth of Nintendo merchandise, some of which is exclusive only to Nintendo World. With tables specifically made for Pokemon battles, quality Nintendo-themed apparel, a DS play center and cashiers who dont look like you owe them something like in most other Manhattan shops, at least making a visit there would be worth your while if youre ever in the vicinity.
Even though the store itself exceeds expectations, the real fun was beginning outside. High atop a black steel tower the emcee began instructing people to hurry and sign up for the Donkey Konga tournament, as if the lines werent already long enough. Since Donkey Konga makes me want to pull my hair out from frustration (I suck), I began making my rounds, trusty digital camera by my side, hoping I could catch a wayward celebrity or at least a 2nd-rate celeb fresh out of rehab.
A bit later, while shamelessly swiping Nintendo World mini-bottles of water from an unattended cooler, I thought I felt the ground begin to shake. Thats when a group of screaming, foamy-mouthed children clobbered me like a stampede of tiny Barcelona bulls. Giant, Huggable Pikachu had shuffled his way from out of nowhere to meet and greet all of his fans, from behind the protective fenced barrier, of course. I was lucky enough to snap a picture of Pikachu holding out his paw to me but a very rude woman pushed me out of the way in the hopes that touching the mascot would perhaps cure her eczema and maybe it did, but sadly not even Pikachu can cure ugly.
After picking myself up off the ground I noticed someone standing next to me who I thought was accompanying Pikachu but who seemed a little bit out of place. I was a little frightened and yet awed by a 50-year-old dressed up like a member of Team Rocket in a blue wig carrying a plush Pikachu doll. Alright, mostly I was just frightened. Eventually he scampered away, but I saw Scary Pikachu Man three more times that day skulking around the event waiting for his chance to catch Giant Huggable Pikachu in a net and drag him into the sewers.
At one end of the event gamers delighted in playing GameCube games on LCD screens while kids slammed violently on bongo drums at the Donkey Konga 2 tournament. At the other end of the block I was playing Super Smash Brothers: Melee from the back of what I can only describe as the coolest vehicle ever painted in a DS theme. Perhaps its the only vehicle to have a DS theme, but a car you can pull over anywhere and have a Super Smash Brothers: Melee tournament in is a dream to me.
Just when I thought things were getting a little boring, who should show up but your friend and mine, Mario Mario, who I photographed staring down Pikachu as if a real-life Smash Brothers fight was going to break out; disappointingly, it never did. To my surprise and horror, young poorly-paid Nintendo World staff began peeling back the iron gates that separated the crowd from the mascots. Honestly, I expected a bloodbath, but a young boy about four years old ran over to Mario with his hands outstretched and what did our hero do? He reached down and gave the little guy a big hug that would make even Archie Bunker weep.
Okay, I wept, is that what you wanted me to say?
Overall the opening seemed to be a rousing success as people of all ages from all walks of life played and had fun. And happily for Nintendo, spent outrageous amounts of money at the cash registers. The Nintendo World opening was hopefully a prelude to the kind of savvy attitude Nintendo will continue as we push past E3 2005 and beyond.
And if you see Scary Pikachu Man, give him my regards. From a distance.