Well after many days and nights of wishing, hoping, praying, sweating, bleeding, and driving themselves to total burn out Bungie completed Halo 2. Congratulations guys. We knew you could do it. But this is not about their struggle, no. It's about my adventure.... in picking it up at my local EB Game store.

[image:8702 left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]After many a phone call to the store and ping ponging between many different clerks and managers, I finally got word that my local EB Games store would in fact be open for the sale. Woo Hoo! The system described to me was at 9 PM, they would be handing out numbered flyers that would represent your place in line. I arrived at about 5 minutes of 9, and got #32 in line. Sweet. I was also lucky enough to pre-purchase another copy for my brother on the spot. This told me that there would be more than enough copies for the crowd. After, instead of waiting at the mall for 3 more hours, I decided to go home and relax. At about 11:30 I left again to stop off at the bank to make a deposit, and then to the mall again to pick up my "pre-ordered" discs.

[image:8700 right hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]When I arrived about quarter to 12 a few people were straggling in. Perhaps not many would arrive I thought to myself. It was a bit cold, and a school night. As I walked to the store on the upper level I heard a crowd below. Another game store on the lower level was also selling it at midnight. The crowd stretched around the corner. Between 300 and 400 people were in line and wandering around. It was quite a sight, and my heart quickened.

[image:8701 left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]I snapped a few shots and caught the eye of one security guard. I continued on my way. Just getting to about the second crowd on the upper level where I pre-ordered my game. This one was smaller, about 200 people, but still they filled the hallway. As I was about to take another few shots, another guard approached me and asked if I was with any news service. Thinking if, I was not, he would want me to stop, or ask for my camera. So I did what any good halo fan needing to cover the most important event of the last 2 years would do. I lied through my teeth. "Yes, I am, Hi how are you, I'm taking pictures for the number 1 and 2 Halo fan websites, halo.bungie.org, and rampancy.net." I said. "I'm covering the event for both of then since I was picking up my game here as well." Lending credence to my dissembling I waived my "Are You Big Enough Lan Fest" laminated ID card dangling from my official xbox lanyard. Hoping this would impress him, at least enough to leave me alone, and go about his business of getting 55 dollars an hour in OT to wander around a mall at night with a bunch of gamers. The pimple faced guy responded, "I can't let you take any pictures of the Mall." I blinked a few times. "But I'm not taking pictures of the Mall." I said. "I'm taking pictures of the people IN the mall." I smiled. He didn't. "I'm sorry, I can't let you, it's mall policy." Obviously he was under the impression I was there to steal some secret mall technology he could not let fall into the wrong hands. "I understand." I said. Another lie. I spent the next few minutes secretly taking random flash-less picts from the camera hanging from my neck. So, I'd like to give a big "pfthththththth' to the Mall's security.

[image:8696 right hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]So, undaunted I began to walk to the waiting crowd hoping to find out where to go, and how soon I could get out and go play the best game of the year. Well no sooner did I start to look around but one of my best friends Wess Murphy comes out to greet me. (Some of you may remember Wess as the man who made the AYBE lan fest a reality, where we played HALO on a 88 foot wide projection screen in a 1,200 seat theater. - Big 'Thank You' goes out to Wess for that one. You are a God. ;) )

[image:8697 left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]"What are you doing! I thought you were not coming tonight?" I said. "I have furniture being delivered this morning, so I said the hell with it I'll pull an all-nighter." Wess said. We hung out for a while then shuffled into our spots in line. Unfortunately, his tag number was in the 80's, mine was in the 30's. :( But after about 20 minutes, I got my disc, and walked back to hang out with Wess again. Then something hysterical happened. I ran into some people I have not seen in 10 years. A guy I know that has been living out in LA, but is now working at a local hospital here. He's spending some time visiting on this coast before he goes back. We got a chance to catch up, and talked with others about the game, about LIVE and all the new features. I dropped a few names to look cool. It worked. Eyes began to widen as I described some of the LANs we had, and the people in the fan community I have had the privilege to play with. It was very exciting to hang out with some true fans of the game. So I waited in line again with Wess who was patiently waiting his turn. I could not leave my wing-man. So after about a half an hour, he got his game, and we headed out. I got some of the people we were hanging out with to pose with their brand new games. It was very cool, almost surreal in a way.

[image:8695 right hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]But now it rests in my hands, and in a few moments I will be enjoying Halo 2 in all it's glory for years to come, but I wanted to write down and always remember, the night it all began. I hope to see many of you online soon. Take care.

[image:8694 left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]And Bungie, words cannot express my gratitude. To everyone who gave everything they have, I thank you.

-Brian "Blackstar" Josselyn