It’s Time To End The Traditional E3 Press Conference

Originally posted on D-Pad.co.uk

For an industry as exciting and progressive as video games, why is our most important event so dull?

I don’t equate “gaming” with nervous developers listlessly talking about video games future. The live E3 show has become stale, and no smoke machine or massive LCD will rectify that. The solution, though, has come from the world’s oldest game developer, Nintendo. The annual media briefing should be taken off the stage and put straight onto the net

Nintendo might be lagging in sales, but they are miles ahead of Sony and Microsoft with their approach to E3. For the second year in a row, Nintendo shunned the bright and expensive lights of Los Angeles for a pre-recorded showcase. Expertly produced, the Nintendo Digital Event had more vibrancy and life than any of the arena briefings. The Robot Chicken segments were inspired, as was the bonkers duel between Reggie and Iwata to introduce Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. In addition, the Luigi Death Stare cameo illustrated Nintendo’s connection with the community better than Phil Spencer and his plethora of indie game T-Shirts.

In a pre-recorded conference, Andrew Wilson would be 10% less douchey

A recently released video from Microsoft showed the incredible effort the company goes through to produce their conference; they plan for E3 months in advance. A pre-recorded briefing would require considerably less time and save the company loads, allowing them to get on with the important work. EA are already halfway on the road to a pre-recorded show; most of their conference this year consisted of behind-the-scenes footage.

The most exciting part of the media briefings is the appearance of a surprise game, such as the Uncharted 4 reveal at the end of Sony’s show this year. In a pre-recorded show, there will still be that surprise factor. In fact, it would be harder for leaks to spill out as Sony would produce the show in-house. The only thing missing would be the yelping fanboys.

The E3 pressers have provided us with some memorable moments, but it has given us a lot more cringe and boredom. Gaming has changed drastically since the first E3 press conference; now it’s time for the companies to catch up on how they talk to gamers.

7 Directions for Brock Lesnar in WWE

The unthinkable has occurred. The Streak has been broken.

The consensus among fans was that if The Streak were to end, then an up-and-coming superstar like Roman Reigns or Bray Wyatt should be “The One” to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

Coupled with the poor build-up and Lesnar’s established rep as a star, the belief was that ‘The Beast’ would be “just another victim” (to quote Taz). He didn’t need the title of “Streak Conqueror” to his already lofty trophy cabinet.

After the jaw-dropping outcome, Lesnar now holds that honour (whether people like it or not), but how should WWE capitalize on Lesnar’s historic feat? Brock’s appearance on the Raw after WM did not indicate the’ The Beast’s future direction. Here’s seven scenario’s WWE could utilize for Lesnar.

vs Taker at WrestleMania 31: Career vs Career

Much like when Undertaker sought vengeance against Triple H for the beat down ‘The Game’ inflicted on him at WrestleMania 27, surely Taker would want revenge against Lesnar for ending his precious Streak.

In this scenario, The Undertaker returns in the run-up to ‘Mania 31, demanding a match with Lesnar. ‘The Beast’ approves, but only if Taker puts his career on the line. Taker goads Lesnar into agreeing to the same stipulation. Lesnar - full of confidence after already beating Taker at ‘Mania, acquiesces to Takers demands. In the build-up, WWE could reveal that Taker has never beaten Lesnar one-on-one (a fact WWE didn’t bring up in the run-up to WM30).

Undoubtedly, an Undertaker WM match’s most significant selling point is gone, but WWE in 2015 would be all-but-out of the Pay-Per-View business. Getting fans to buy the WWE Network for $9.99 is their priority; the days of trying to shift a WrestleMania for $60 are over; WWE PPV’s are essentially just monthly specials; a marquee match at WrestleMania has less importance.

Lesnar’s contract expires at ‘Mania 31, and if the rumours are true, ‘The Beast’ is clamouring for a return to the UFC. The consensus among wrestling fans is that The Undertaker would retire when someone breaks The Streak, so if he were to return for one more match at Mania 31, it would undoubtedly be his last.

One’s man career will come to an end; it’ll be a can’t miss encounter.

vs Kane

On the ‘Mania after Raw, Stephanie McMahon told Kane to forget about “what happened to your brother at WrestleMania.” It’s been a long time since WWE mentioned Kane and The Undertaker’s relationship, so there could be a reason for Steph’s seemingly throwaway comment.

Kane would slowly start to defy The Authority. Finally, after he’s had enough of being Triple H and Steph’s lapdog, Kane would tear off his suit and revert to “The Monster.” He would reveal that his anger is not directed against The Authority but against the man who ended his brother’s career, Brock Lesnar.

Kane would demand a match with Lesnar. Paul Heyman agrees, but with one caveat, ‘The Big Red Monster’ would have to put his career on the line. Kane is winding down his in-ring contributions, and what better way for Kane to bow out than in a headline match with Brock Lesnar. After despatching Kane, Lesnar and Heyman would have even more to crow about, ending both of The Brothers of Destruction’s careers.

WWE could also concoct a reason for why Kane joined The Authority in the first place.

vs. the WWE World Champion at WrestleMania 31

After some time away from WWE, Lesnar (alongside Heyman) makes a surprising return on Raw, decimating 3MB/Zack Ryder or some other disposable talent. Heyman lists Lesnar’s numerous accolades (again), including his most impressive – ending The Streak. But there is one more thing Lesnar wants to accomplish: Becoming WWE World Heavyweight Champion. And he wants to lift the title in the main event of WrestleMania 31. The Authority would have no choice but to accept.

This challenge would nullify the Royal Rumble, but WWE has already butchered the Rumble winner’s prize over the years. The winners of the past nine Rumbles have only main-evented WrestleMania three times and won once. Fans will primarily watch the event on the WWE Network – which should be accessible to the rest of the English speaking world by Jan 2015, so buyrates would not be a priority. WWE can change the Rumble prize to a World Championship match at Elimination Chamber, opening up a bigger pool of potential winners, creating a more exciting match.

No one can argue with Lesnar’s credentials; he won the biggest prize in all of WWE. A match in the main event losing to whoever the champion is (hopefully, still Daniel Bryan) would be a fitting farewell for Lesnar.

vs Cesaro

Cesaro’s baffling switch to the Paul Heyman camp could be a set-up for a Cesaro vs Lesnar match at SummerSlam. A match between the two would be a spectacle and a career-making moment for Cesaro. Brock has only fought “stars” since his return to WWE in 2012. A match against an up-and-comer like Cesaro would be a fresh feud the vocal WWE hardcores can get behind.

The likeable ‘King of Swing’ could be a valuable asset for WWE in Europe with his ability to speak six different languages; he could become the biggest star in Europe since Bret Hart. A victory over Lesnar would be a boon for Cesaro, but it’s unlikely WWE will allow ‘The Swiss Superman’ to defeat Lesnar right after The Beast ended The Streak. But a competitive showing by Cesaro would be enough to establish him as a main-eventer in WWE.

The sight of Cesaro giving Lesnar a Cesaro Swing would be a career-maker by itself.

vs CM Punk II

Punk walked on WWE after this year’s Royal Rumble for a multitude of reasons. One of those could have been that his much-anticipated feud with Lesnar ended. Lesnar ended with a one-and-done match, which Punk lost. However, a way to tempt Punk back would be to dangle a rematch with Lesnar in front of him.

The previous feud between the two didn’t meet the expected heights. The second time around, I’m sure both men would set out to tell a more compelling story. Heyman is currently at the top of his game on the microphone. A verbal duel between him and Punk over CM’s genuine walk-out would be must-watch TV.

Lesnar’s monster aura is even more enhanced after accomplishing what Punk couldn’t, beating The Streak. The match between the two at SummerSlam last year was voted Match of The Year by many publications. However, the two are capable of bettering their SS bout.

vs Batista

A long-time dream match that has yet to materialize in WWE (the two clashed in OVW when both were rookies).

This scenario would involve Lesnar turning babyface on Heyman. Considering that WWE has Lesnar for a limited number of dates, WWE doesn’t have the luxury of doing a ‘slow burn.’ Instead, they could do the turn in one long segment. Here’s how it would play out: Lesnar and Heyman are in the ring. Heyman is gloating, referring to himself as the greatest manager of all time and the man who beat The Streak. This boast will irk Lesnar as he is the one who pinned Taker. Heyman would argue that Lesnar would be nothing without him. Lesnar would be fuming, and the crowd will be clamouring to see Lesnar destroy Heyman. Right when Lesnar is going to attack Heyman, Batista runs in from behind and clocks Lesnar. Batista reveals himself as the newest Paul Heyman Guy.

There is the potential, though, of the match divulging into a giant mess. When two’ power guys’ like Batista and Lesnar clash, the results are not usually pretty, Lesnar vs Goldberg being a prime example. Although, WWE’s vindictive match layout is considered the primary reason for the poor quality of the bout.

If WWE layouts a compelling match and if both men perform in front of an appreciative crowd, this dream match may be a classic.

vs Bryan – WWE World Championship at SummerSlam

The most logical and likely match to make for SummerSlam. Lesnar’s storyline reason for returning this year was to win the WWE World Title before he got sidetracked by The Undertaker.

After defeating Batista, Orton and Triple H in the spring and summer, The Authority would be at their wits ends on how to strip Daniel Bryan of the belts. In enters Lesnar.

Bryan can match anyone’s style; this would be a classic bout and one where the outcome could go either way. WWE would be insane not to do this match.

Stand by for Titanfall: Xbox’s Counterattack

Originally posted on D-Pad.co.uk

The biggest game so far this gen and Microsoft's hope to turn the console war is incoming…

Pac-Man & The Ghostly Adventures.

...

Titanfall is also out this week.

Xbox One's UK price cut was Microsoft's most notable move since the arrival of the Xbone and PlayStation 4. Adding more indignation to early adopters, Microsoft also announced a Titanfall bundle. The current price cut only applies to the UK but don't be surprised if Microsoft slashes prices of Xbox One's globally; Sony's PS4 has out-sold Microsoft's console 2-to-1

It was clear this was going to be an intense battle; the Xbox One and PS4 launched a mere seven days apart. Boasting an almost identical line-up, specs and design, it's hard for general consumers to differentiate between the consoles.

Bad press has blighted The Xbox One from early on; the backlash Microsoft had to endure after gamers roundly rejected their always-online policy made the PSN hack story seem a million years ago. The issue over Xbox One's inability to play games at 1080p was another – albeit minor – bullet in the brand. Ultimately, the critical difference between the two machines has been the PlayStation 4's lower price. So when presented with two parallel machines, it's no surprise that shoppers have opted for the lower-priced model.

While Sony has other interests, such as their electronic and movie divisions, the PlayStation brand has always been a focal point in Sony's portfolio. The company's CEO, Kazuo Hirai (he of "RIIIIDGE RACER!" fame), obtained his position on the strength of his work on the PlayStation. Hirai is always seated front row for Sony's annual E3 conference; his commitment to PlayStation is firm.

The Xbox, in contrast, is treated like the red-headed step-child of the Microsoft family. Overshadowed by the lofty Windows, the Xbox has never been able to shake the 'novelty' project label. Investors have urged new CEO Satya Nadella to abandon the Xbox brand. Nadella's stance on the Xbox remains to be seen; he had little interaction with the brand on his ascend. Phil Spencer has stated that Nadella is a "supporter" of Xbox, but Nadella has not gone on record expressing his views on the gaming device. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is convinced that the company should sell the Xbox brand.

The Xbox, in contrast, is treated like the red-headed step-child of the Microsoft family. Overshadowed by the lofty Windows, the Xbox has never been able to shake the 'novelty' project label. Investors have urged new CEO Satya Nadella to abandon the Xbox brand. Nadella's stance on the Xbox remains to be seen; he had little interaction with the brand on his ascend. Phil Spencer has stated that Nadella is a "supporter" of Xbox, but Nadella has not gone on record expressing his views on the gaming device. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is convinced that the company should sell the Xbox brand.

Analysts estimate that the Xbox brand loses $2 Billion annually. With Microsoft losing money elsewhere, the Entertainment division (which includes the Xbox) would be the first to taste the sword.

Titanfall drops this week on Xbox One and PC, followed by an Xbox 360 release next week (Yes, Titanfall is on Xbox 360). In promotional material, Microsoft is touting the Xbox One version of the game as the lead platform.

Open betas, bundles, limited edition console, Microsoft has put their promotional muscle behind Titanfall. The reaction to the game has been unanimously positive. The hype behind Titanfall is reminiscent of the furore surrounding another First Person Shooter that Microsoft was banking on kick-starting a console, Halo. Whilst Halo and its sequel sold exceptionally well and helped MS sell thousands of Xboxes, the original Xbox didn't come close to the overall sales figure of the PS2. As a result, the machine lost a staggering $4 billion.

The exclusives will decide this console generation; HDD space and 1080p are fringe issues. Microsoft snatched up many of Sony's gems last-gen; Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy and even Tekken made the trip to Seattle. The only series Sony can rely on is their first-party games, which are a mixed bag. As fun as Infamous and God of War are, neither will convince fence-sitting gamers to hop over. Gran Turismo has lost its spark and is released too infrequently to make a difference. And no, those extra 60 minutes of Watch Dogs isn't going to be a gen-winner.

Sony's ace is undoubtedly Naughty Dog; the studio has delivered many of Sony's greatest games and arguably the best overall game last-gen, The Last of Us. Despite the strength of Naughty Dog, recent history has shown that it's FPS's that sell consoles – Not action-adventures games. Sony should focus on obtaining the rights to Titanfall's inevitable sequel.

With Nintendo getting out of the console race, it's a two-way battle between Microsoft and Sony. Both consoles are very similar and expensive; it's likely consumers will only pick one. If Titanfall doesn't shift as many Xbox One's as MS requires, it doesn't automatically spell the end, but it'll be a blow the Xbox will be hard-pressed to come back from.

Jimmy Fallon: Gaming's Entryway to Prime Time

Originally posted on D-Pad.co.uk

Jimmy Fallon isn't well-known outside the United States, but it's a name gamers should familiarize themselves with; he's one of us.

Last week, Fallon began his tenure as host of The Tonight Show on NBC with a ridiculously star-laden opening. Fallon took over from long-running host Jay Leno.

Fallon fronted the eponymous Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for five years; the show followed the Tonight Show in the less desirable timeslot of 0.30 am. Fallon targeted a younger demographic via social media integration and, of course, video games. Fallon himself is a gamer and is passionate about the genre; he frequently referenced video games on Late Night (including this zinger at Nintendo) and would bring on developers for live game demonstrations. It was hard for Fallon to hide his glee in these segments. Fallon's enthusiasm is a stark contrast to fellow talk show host Conan O'Brien, who absentmindedly tries his hand at video games in a segment on his show titled Clueless Gamer.

The Tonight Show is an institution; it's been on the air since 1954 and historically garners an older audience than Late Night along with a higher level of celebrity – President Obama has been a frequent guest of the programme.

NBC (the American network that broadcasts Late Night) may tell Fallon to 'class up' his show. In 2009, NBC gave The Tonight Show to the Clueless Gamer himself, Conan O'Brien. After a tumultuous saga, NBC forced O'Brien to quit the show after seven months; NBC subsequently gave The Tonight Show back to former host Jay Leno. NBC argued that Conan failed to attract the valuable older demographic that the elder Leno garnered. However, Fallon has gone on record stating that he's "not going to change anything" and that his Tonight Show will be "the same show" as Late Night.

There have been minor gaming reveals on Late Night; Ubisoft demoed a new section from Watch Dogs on the show. Publishers could conceivably use The Tonight Show platform for higher profile reveals; unveiling the newest Far Cry on NBC will garner tons of mainstream attention.

It remains to be seen whether that will be the case and if Fallon will be allowed to bring on Cliffy B instead of Jennifer Garner. It would be a massive coup for gaming to see Jay Z clutching a PS4 controller on America's #1 talk show.

Assassin’s Creed: Liberation HD Review

Originally posted on D-Pad.co.uk

Assassin’s Creed: Liberation HD is a port of the 2012 PlayStation Vita title, adding upgraded visuals and extra missions. Available on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, this downloadable title follows the life of Aveline de Grandpré, the first female protagonist in the Assassin Creed series.

Liberation takes place in late 18th Century New Orleans around The Seven Year War and the Louisiana Rebellion of 1768. Slavery is one of the main plot points, a subject that even Hollywood wasn’t comfortable tackling until recently. Kudos goes to Ubisoft for tackling such a sensitive topic (Assassin Creeds IV’s DLC, Freedom Cry, also deals with slavery). Although, after watching the powerful 12 Years a Slave, it did feel odd seeing the slave’s plight reduced to a trivial side-quest.

In another departure from the norm, the relationship between main character Aveline and her sidekick Gerard is a deliberate 180 on traditional gender roles; Aveline is the brave warrior who drudges on – sometimes foolishly – into battle whilst cautious Gerard offers support from the sidelines. The main story, whilst intriguing, jumps erratically. This is somewhat redeemed by summaries in-between loading screens.

Prior knowledge of past Assassin’s Creed games is expected. Unfortunately, Ubisoft makes little effort to explain the greater Assassins and Templars plot, leaving many sections of the story downright baffling for newcomers.

The main story is roughly 6-8 hours long; there are also numerous side-quests to occupy the Trophy/Achievement hunters. Most of the missions are quick pick-up-and-play offerings. The much-criticized multiplayer mode from the Vita version has been removed.

Liberation’s gameplay is a departure from previous Assassin Creed games. Aveline lives with her parents and has to keep her Assassin dealings a secret from them. To circumvent this, she rotates various personas, three in total—first, the de-facto Assassin Persona, which will be familiar to anyone who has played an AC game. Second, the Lady Persona gives her the ability to ‘charm’ guards and walk around New Orleans uninterrupted. However, due to the Lady Persona’s oversized dress – and because she is a lady – Aveline can’t free run whilst in this persona. The third uniform is the Slave Persona that the heroine utilizes to go undercover in plantations and slave camps. Despite its ubiquity in advertisements and promo material, the Assassin Persona was the least used of the three outfits in my playthrough due to the high attention the Assassin colours garnered from guards. The better option when out-and-about, is the less-conspicuous Slave Persona which has all the abilities of the Assassin outfit albeit with less health and fewer weapons.

The whip is a fun new addition; unlocked halfway through the game, it allows Aveline to swing across obstacles like Spider-Man. In battle, the whip is a handy tool; with one press, you can knock an enemy off balance, leaving them open for a killer blow.

The cinematics displays Liberations Vita roots; poorly synced voiceovers and stilted faces that went unnoticed on a tiny Vita screen are all too apparent on an HDTV. Although generally, the game looks very impressive, especially the Bayou setting, Liberation HD scarcely resembles the Vita title.

Throughout my time with Assassin’s Creed series, I have become accustomed to the various glitches found in the games, but Liberation pushes that patience to its limit. In the very first minute, I encountered a glitch that caused Aveline’s legs to grow 30ft tall. In another instance, whilst climbing out of the Bayou River onto land, Aveline thought it best to continue swimming. On the grass. I had to restart the game to prevent Aveline from drowning on a tree branch.

The soundtrack is fantastic and is up to the high standard of Assassin Creed scores; even more impressive considering that this soundtrack was composed for a Vita title.

Liberation offers new gameplay features that AC fans will appreciate. However, it cannot be – and shouldn’t be – treated as a main entry into the series. The game is also a tad overpriced at £15.99.

The character of Aveline shows promise. Hopefully, Ubisoft will promote her to a main franchise game or use her traits for another female protagonist to give video games a much-needed leading heroine.

Liberation is a decent game that its intended fanbase will enjoy, but it’s not one for newcomers.

Overall

Assassin Creed fans will love this fresh outlook on a familiar franchise with its daring plot and inspired characters. Sadly, the game is riddled with glitches, unwelcoming to newcomers and lacks polish. Only for the hardcore AC fan.

6/10

Video Games on TV

In December, two high profile shows on video games were broadcast.

First was Charlie Brooker's How Videogames Changed The World. Channel 4 promoted the show heavily and granted the programme a 9 pm prime time slot. Despite the hype, the programme was a let down; the show adopted the tired countdown + talking head format and was painfully dull. HVCGTW was aimed at those with a passing interest in video games; the show didn't provide gamers with much enlightening information.

At times, the programme came across as desperate in its attempt to sell the general public on video games significance. The last 'game' featured on the list was Twitter. Brooker drew a parallel between video games and the social networking site. He made a convincing argument but including the website as an example of video games influence was an insult to the many real video games deserving of a place on the list. The show repeatedly claimed that video games were mainstream. If they were, then this one-off programme wouldn't have been necessary.

While Brooker's programme was aimed at non-gamers, VGX was squarely aimed at those who choose to spend a Saturday night playing Dota 2. VGX was the successor to the Video Game Awards (VGA's), the Emmy's; they weren't. The VGA's selling point was the show's "World Exclusives." Previous year's VGA's unveiled such blockbusters games as Mass Effect 3 and Batman Arkham City. This year's redesigned VGX did away with the award show tropes; gone were the C-list celebrities and irrelevant presentations, the focus of the show was the game reveals. VGX broadcasted live - and commercial-free - on Spike TV in the US and streamed worldwide.

A+ idea. F- execution

The show plodded (badly), the "World Exclusives" weren't as significant as previous years, and the show suffered from many production errors. The decision to abandon the large amphitheatre for an empty studio may have been cost-effective, but it resulted in a drab and awkward atmosphere.

While all of those involved in How Videogames Changed The World were fans of the genre, the co-host of VGX, actor Joel McHale couldn't be anything but. McHale's response to the lousy script and shoddy production was to behave like a disinterested snob.

Many have lamented the lack of video games programmes on mainstream television. After these two embarrassments, the only involvement TV should have with video games is through an HDMI port.

The Quest for Prestige

Activision arranged an unprecedented giveaway at this year's Eurogamer Expo: The first 500 people to play Call Of Duty: Ghosts would receive a free Prestige Edition of the game.

Every major video game comes in three flavours these days: The Standard Edition, which is just the game with no added extras. Decked out with a unique cover and/or extra in-game content is the Special Edition. And then there's the Collectors Edition or, as it's known to COD fans: the Prestige Edition. The Prestige Edition retails at £180 and includes everything in the Special Edition but with one lavish extra. For example, 2012's Black Ops 2 came with an RC Drone. This year's Prestige Edition is packaged with a 1080p HD camera.

I couldn't pass up this opportunity; I had to go. It didn't matter that I hardly play COD and have a negative K/D ratio, but they were giving away A FREE PRESTIGE EDITION.

Due to a bad sleeping pattern and paranoia, I arrived at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre at 6 am; doors weren't scheduled to be opened until 11 am. Despite being obscenely early, I wasn't alone. There were already 100 people in line; the guy at the front of the queue had been there since 8 pm the previous day. My friends arrived an hour later. The atmosphere was jovial with a hint of apprehension; no staff was present to maintain the queue. It became clear early on that I wasn't among hardcore COD fans; "I'm putting mine on eBay!" said one man.

At around 8 am, the crowd was ushered from the right side of the building to the left. An uppity security guard - with shoulder-length brown hair resembling a certain biblical figure - took the Call of Duty theme too seriously; "If you listen to me, we'll all get through this safely!" said Army Jesus.

A few minutes after the guard had finished preaching, the staff allowed us to enter the building. We collected our passes and headed for the turnstiles; the staff halted us and directed everyone to the stairs below. It was 9 am and only authorized personnel was allowed into the hall; we were stuck in the basement.

The queue had disintegrated; hundreds of men and scarcely few women were jammed into this tiny area. Press members and staff would walk by, bemused, disgusted, and intrigued by this mob. Some would snap photos, instructing us to wave and yelp for the camera. "You guys really love Call of Duty, eh?" asked an amused press member. The crowd collectively shrugged.

Thirty minutes before opening time, we emerged from the basement into the foyer. Loud, ominous stamping could be heard from the back. A few moments before the Expo was to open to the public; we were finally allowed to stand in the main hall. Only a steel barrier separated us. Army Jesus arose, "Okay, people! I want a nice and orderly entrance." The crowd chuckled. He outstretched his hands and motioned to the two entrance points. The salivating crowd drowned out Army Jesus's sermon. I was jostled by the ravenous mob behind me. The hours of waiting and endless queues had turned the playful bunch from earlier into freebie obsessed monsters.

A staff member let the first in line enter; it was then when all hell broke loose. The barriers slapped the floor; a storm descended onto the Exhibition Centre, an 50" TV was flung aside like a copy of Battlefield, rucksacks flew with wild abandonment. The staff pleaded for order in vain.

My eyes darted left and right; I had lost sight of my friends a few queues back. Bodies flew past while I tried to ascertain where the booth was. I spotted a familiar silhouette: A man with a gun. That must be the Call of Duty booth! I dashed straight to it. The queue formed fast. I quickly claimed my spot.

I lagged a couple of seconds; I couldn't be sure if there were 500 people ahead of me. A man in an official Ghosts T-shirt shuffled down the line handing a piece of card. He approached me with the card. I grabbed it. This was it. It confirmed that I was #Oneof500. All those hours, all those queues, the basement, Army Jesus. It was over...almost. I just had to queue for another hour to play the game.

The magic ticket

It was 11 am. I had just finished a second game of COD Ghosts on an Xbox One (the controller felt unsatisfyingly light). I approached the redeem station, entered in my details; it was done. Finally, I had the rest of the convention to enjoy. Unfortunately, my sleep-deprived body couldn't handle a post office queue (although those are pretty brutal). I made a few rotations of the convention before heading home. Battered. Bruised. Alive.

I later sold my Prestige Edition on eBay.