On Monday, I headed to Futureshop (chain or stores owned by Best Buy) to make an exchange when I found out that they were planning to have a midnight released of Grand Theft Auto IV that evening. I had pre-ordered the game at EBGames weeks earlier, but found out that I would have to wait the next day to pick it up. Seeing as though the Futureshop was still taking preorders for GTA IV Special Edition (to my surprise), I decided to cancel my EB order and decided to go to the release party at Futureshop that evening (plus it came with the added incentive of a free “IV” hat with preorder at FS).

I assumed that since it was a weeknight release and people have work/school the next day, it wouldn’t be that busy….I was wrong. I got to the store at around 11:50 p.m. and there was a huge line-up in front of the building. Thank goodness I had preordered, or else there was a chance I may not have gotten the game (the special edition at least). I was definitely amazed that even though there were a high volume of customers, transactions were done very quickly and people were in and out in less than 10 minutes.

The FS employees let people in about 10 at a time and as you entered, they had created a route within the store using police tape and they created a fake crime scene near the entrance. The employees looked to be dressed like thugs/criminals and police officers. I have to hand it to the management, they really make the event a big deal. Though it was not as big of an extravaganza as shown at the stores in downtown Toronto, there was still a lot of excitement and anticipation nonetheless. I looked online and found quite a few videos posted of different GTA IV release parties that were happening that day:

Anyhow, you’ll have to excuse me while I go play some more GTA IV! =)

-Stephen