What do you think of midnight releases?

Do you find it exciting to stand in line with other like minded gamers and wait for the latest release?  
 
Do you just stroll on down the next day, and get in and out in less than 5 minutes?
 
Or do you not really not care as long as they have a copy you can take home, regardless of when you enter the store?
 
Maybe it's none of the above.  What do you think?

A few years ago I would have said "fuck yeah!" Hell, I waited all night for an Xbox 360 when that came out, and that was the "second shipment" (December 18th, if memory serves). Nowadays? I think the majority of people are crazy fucks for doing it. You'll get home, play it for three hours max, go to sleep, then wake up in the morning to go to school/work. Are you really going to die if you don't get in those three hours ASAP? And what if you don't have school/work the next day? Dude, then just go and get it in the morning. 
 
Software is always in abundance. I think you can only legitimately make a case to go to a midnight release for hardware.

I rarely buy games the first day they come out, let alone play them as soon as I get them. It's not weird for you to find a ton of unopened games stacked next to my TV sometimes. 
 
With that said, I think it's pretty neat that they offer this for the hardcore fans who can't wait to get their hands on the game.

" A few years ago I would have said "fuck yeah!" Hell, I waited all night for an Xbox 360 when that came out, and that was the "second shipment" (December 18th, if memory serves). Nowadays? I think the majority of people are crazy fucks for doing it. You'll get home, play it for three hours max, go to sleep, then wake up in the morning to go to school/work. Are you really going to die if you don't get in those three hours ASAP? And what if you don't have school/work the next day? Dude, then just go and get it in the morning.  Software is always in abundance. I think you can only legitimately make a case to go to a midnight release for hardware. "

Even though I work at a game store I still have never been to a midnight release. I just don't see the sense in waiting for a game all night and then killing your sleeping schedule just to play it for a few hours. I just end up dropping by the next day and picking up a copy since I wouldn't have time to play it until then anyways.
 
As for hardware releases I find when a new console cycle comes out, I'll continue to play the few awesome releases that would still come out for the current gen consoles while playing on my PC a little more than usual. I usually end up picking one of the consoles up 1 year later and the other 2 years later.

I'm fine with midnight releases.

I usually pick it up the next morning when no one is around. Best Buy always has enough copies.

I like the low-profile midnight releases where I can just stroll into the store at midnight and pick it up. I'm always awake at that time anyways and I hate to wait for things I want. It's perfect.
 
Though I'm also not above waiting in line. If it's a game I really want, I'll gladly stand in line.
 
In the case of the Wii launch, waiting in line with everyone actually turned out to be MORE fun than the Wii itself. I know, not that surprising, right?

I am find with midnight releases.

I typically find myself picking up games weeks to months after release, just because I don't have enough time to play them anyway. It's not like I'm plowing through game after game over here.

I've never been part of a midnight release, but they're pretty cool. Everyone's stoked and anticipating for the game. Must be a pretty good atmosphere as long as people don't decied to be dicks.
 
So I'm cool with them.

EXCITING? People are dying out there! I don't think "exciting" is the word I'd use to describe it!

" EXCITING? People are dying out there! I don't think "exciting" is the word I'd use to describe it! "

fuk dat noise

I'd try get the game a few days early from stores that breaks the street date, as for midnight launches, I don't really care, it's only a few hours earlier that I get to play the game, I mean unless it is a weekend you probably won't have much time to play the game after you've picked it up.

They scare me. Most of the people in those queues look like they shouldn't be allowed out after dark.

I think it's great for people that are into a given game that much, more power (and fun) to them. I wish I had that passion still, truly. Now, I just could never see myself participating in one. If I had the next day off and nothing else was going on (I.E. I wasn't out getting drunk) I could imagine swinging by the Game Stop to grab something like Mass Effect 3. But shit overall I am just too old for all that.
 
I can't multitask when it comes to social activities at 31 anymore. Sad, I know, but I've spent far too many nights burning it at both ends since I was about 19. Between working my old ass out at the gym and getting in a full day's work (which unfortunately usually means 10-11 hours in my trade) and/or also going out with friends or devoting time to my woman, I just can't also stand in a line at midnight for something.
 
Though I guess I could schedule a few days off and experience this once or twice before I die.

Man I had a midnight release last night, hate it when that happens

I would only do that for a console, an actual game can wait until morning.

It's stupid.

I love the feeling of strolling down the next morning to pickup my copy, knowing that Ill have a whole, fresh day ahead of me to enjoy said game without having to strain myself and keep awake.

I think they're fairly pointless. All that happens is this: 

• You go to the midnight launch and get the game.
  
• Play it for an hour or 2.
  
• Go to bed and sleep through till midday because you were up until the 3 or 4 in the morning.
• Play it again until the end of the day. 

• Get to the store bright and early at about 9 o'clock in the morning and buy the game
  
• Go home and play it all day from then.
  

I went with a friend to Halo 3's midnight release.  He was super excited.  I thought that the place just smelled bad.  After he got the game, we proceeded to drive around town to the other midnight releases and show his game off.  That was the best part of the night.

Yeah, usually by the time you get it you can only play it for 5 hours because you are too tired. Might as well wait.

Okay, the overall impression I'm getting is that it isn't hatred towards midnight releases, but rather a general sense of apathy because most people don't have the time or energy to waste so late at night when they can just as easily pick it up the next day or when it fits in their schedule.  Which brings up another interesting question.  
 
If midnight releases only really serve to a hardcore few on average, then why not only have them for major console launches?

It's dumb unless I don't have school which in that case is slightly less.

I'm a night person, so midnight is like noon for me. I'm all for midnight releases, but I live in a small town so that never happens.
 
Well actually we did get midnight releases for GTA4 and Fallout 3 at our local Hastings. I went to both and was immensely disappointed by both games, coincidentally.

I have already posted this topic: 

http://www.giantbomb.com/forums/general-discussion/30/what-midnight-launch-events-have-you-been-to/266381/

Got swept up in the Halo 2 release with some friends, which was a pretty big non-event at the EB I was at. And I lined up in the freezing cold for the Burning Crusade Expansion, and even though I had work in the morning, I still longed on to WoW until about 5am that day.

" I have already posted this topic: 

http://www.giantbomb.com/forums/general-discussion/30/what-midnight-launch-events-have-you-been-to/266381/ "

It's not for me.  I went to one once and when it was over, I went home and slept.  I didn't even play it until the next evening because of work.  It would have been smarter to just visit the game store on my lunch hour and be well rested rather than wait around on line for a couple of hours.  I guess if some absolutely have to have the game and will be playing it all through the night then miss work or school the next day to keep playing...well, then it's good for them.  But, for the rest of us?  Not a big deal.

I personally think they're incredibly nerdy.  I've never needed a game that bad.

I've only been to one and it was pretty fun. It was only a relatively small shop though so I imagine it would have been better if, say, more than about 2 people could have waited inside.

iv'e gone to 2 midnight releases. one was resident evil 5 and modern warfare 2. resident evil 5 one was alright. modern warfare 2 was kind of cool. the military was there and me and my friend played modern warfare 2 from a hummer that they had.

" @TheGreatGuero said:

" EXCITING? People are dying out there! I don't think "exciting" is the word I'd use to describe it! "

Well, by exciting, I mean really energetic crowd all hyped and counting down the minutes.  I remember the Halo 2 midnight launch.  People were so psyched to finally be able to play Halo over Xbox Live.  I honestly prepped for that midnight release by sleeping during the day so I would have the energy to play 12-14 hours of Slayer and CTF. "

I've only actually done it once, and it was for Modern Warfare 2. I watched two /b/tards almost get into a brawl over whether or not the PS3 was better than the 360. Some of the people that go to those would make you re-think your views on abortion. It was more or less an agonizing wait process, but it was cool to have the game as soon as I could.

...there is no point. Other than waste a full day of sleep waiting in line, what's the big deal about getting a game a day earlier? It's not like it's going to dissolve in a week and you need as much playtime as you can.
I always just pre-order it at my local JB Hi-Fi, and pick it up whenever I feel like it. 

It is exciting to stand(or sit) in line and talking to others who love the game just as much as you do.