PlayStation Vita midnight launch: cosplay and commitment

News PlayStation Vita

Around a hundred customers queue.

A committed fan and some skin-tight cosplay were the main features of Sony's official PlayStation Vita launch event, which took place last night at GAME's London Oxford Street store.

Demand for the machine was steady, if not bustling - around a hundred customers lined up to get their hands on Sony's new hardware by midnight, although the queue only really took life within the last hour.

An exception to that was 21-year-old Zohaib Ali, who had been been waiting in line since Sunday and stood front of the queue. A hardcore gamer and veteran of midnight store launches, Ali had gone home to sleep each night, his place held by one of his carers before he duly returned each morning.

His dedication to being first in the queue won him a copy of every PlayStation Vita game for the next year.

Also in attendance was Ami Ledger, who works in the Format QA department at Sony Studio Liverpool. (Thanks Halo.Jones!) She signed copies of the game while dressed in a form-hugging WipEout pilot suit.

GAME's flagship store was decorated in blue Vita livery for the occasion, which came on the same day the shop chain confirmed it would not stock Ubisoft's range of Vita titles.

Despite this, boxes for Ubisoft launch line-up of Lumines, Michael Jackson, Rayman: Origins, Asphalt Injection and Dungeon Hunter Alliance were all still visible on shop shelves. GAME confirmed these were for display purposes only, however.

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About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

Comments (81) Latest comment 3 months ago

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captain_Carl #1 3 months ago

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Ali had gone home to sleep each night, his place held by one of his carers before he duly returned each morning.
The fuck is this?
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Whitster #2 3 months ago

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I hope those carers are family or privitely funded, because if publicly funded social workers are being paid to wait in queues for console launchs then I've got some new austerity measure ideas for Dave.

Also surely this should count as cheating for the games for a year comp?

Edited by Whitster at 22/02/12 @ 11:07
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mkreku #3 3 months ago

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Holy shit, that Ami Ledger girl.. wow..

Edited by mkreku at 22/02/12 @ 11:07
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Eraysor #4 3 months ago

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Makes me want to change my team of choice from AG Systems to Feisar....
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Casserole #5 3 months ago

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Hi Ami!
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skowhegan Verified Staff Writer, Eurogamer Network #6 3 months ago

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@Whitster They were his friends.
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jjolley #7 3 months ago

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That guy who waited that long for a launch is a total tit. That's just insanity right there, not to mention that they're rewarding him with every vita game released within this year? What kind of insanity is this?

Why even bother going out to pick it up, may as well just order on line. Surely he would have known this given he is a *hardcore* gamer apparently.

Edited by jjolley at 22/02/12 @ 11:17
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asphaltcowboy #8 3 months ago

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So... he wasn't there from Sunday then? Seems quite... cheaty. Also, doesn't winning a copy of every Vita game released this year require GAME to survive for at least the next year? ;D
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Casserole #9 3 months ago

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Imagine being the second guy in line and arriving just after this cheat, but doing it all alone, tent, pot noodles the works... I would be rather pissed.
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Afiddes #10 3 months ago

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Does anyone know how many people other midnight launches have brought in? I just feel 100 is quite low
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cjb_bjc #11 3 months ago

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Gonna have to agree, 100 is pretty low. But I think the number of people going out to buy one or are getting them delivered is much much higher!
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Whitster #12 3 months ago

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@skowhegan
Fair Enough (Still think it's cheating though).

Also the chick in the Wipeout costume was a customer! I thought she was a promotional model.
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Architect_z #13 3 months ago

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Sorry guys, Ami Ledger is my wife
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ZizouFC #14 3 months ago

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I like how they had Ubisoft games on display even though they didn't have any stock.
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kirankara #15 3 months ago

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http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/screenshot_278040_thumb_wide940.jpg

http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/screenshot_278041_thumb_wide940.jpg

Best reason to be stood at Game at midnight last night. Camel toe alert!
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Afiddes #16 3 months ago

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@Whitster I looked it up, apparently that is actually Ami Ledger, wow!
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natureboy #17 3 months ago

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I have never understood the point of queuing for games when you can get it at your leisure the next day or whenever convenient at less hassle to yourself. They are all sad geeks! They all need to get laid or something
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Laythe_AD #18 3 months ago

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Holy crap. Hello Ami Ledger. >.>

Moment of stunned male weakness aside, did they need to wrap a presumably talented developer in a skin-tight, admittedly attractive cleavagey jump suit? I'd have her signature without struggling to look her in the eye too.
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natureboy #19 3 months ago

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@Architect_z yeah right. Please provide proof of marriage
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xMrBrown #20 3 months ago

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I remember Ami Ledger was at the PS Vita Room at Eurogamer expo last year got a picture with her! She seemed pretty nice
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Marky264 #21 3 months ago

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Nice! I love the fact the Wipeout Girl was there on launch! I remember seeing her at the Vita stand last year at the Eurogamer 2011 Expo!
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Afiddes #22 3 months ago

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@Laythe_AD I completely agree, with the stereotypical developer being male it is important to let the world know there are talented female developers working on well loved titles. Dressing them up in skin tight lycra is not the best way to do this!

saying that, when you look like Ami, you can wear what ever the hell you like!!!!

edit: my grammar is rubbish!

Edited by Afiddes at 22/02/12 @ 11:45
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captain_Carl #23 3 months ago

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@Laythe_AD Her choice! She's a cosplayer too.
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AceGrace #24 3 months ago

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Erm, am I the only one who doesn't know who Ami Ledger is?

If she is a developer what games has she been involved in?

Edited by AceGrace at 22/02/12 @ 11:46
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jaguarwong #25 3 months ago

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Virgin floaty hand will always expose you.

Edited by jaguarwong at 22/02/12 @ 11:47
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hilts #26 3 months ago

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Wow I would say how much for the wipeout girl , but that would just be crass
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AdamVJ #27 3 months ago

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Is it sad that I cherish the day when me and Ami exchanged a few flirty tweets over Twitter? Probably, but there's no denying that she is one piece of ace and a lovely person to boot. Oh, and that WipeOut cosplay has nothing on her dressed as Morrigan from Darkstalkers. You must search frantically for this!
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RawShark #28 3 months ago

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Hey Zohaib, Get a job you dork!
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schnide #29 3 months ago

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...

And to think people say that gaming is full of horny geeks!
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Whitster #30 3 months ago

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@hilts Reminds me of the car show in the Simpsons.

"Do you come with the car"
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Whitster #31 3 months ago

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@RawShark I still think he's cheating, but thats probably a bit of a harsh message for a man with carers.
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tursachan #32 3 months ago

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Personally I wish the games industry would move past the whole booth babe culture. The choice of which developer should represent the team at a media event shouldn't be based on which one is willing to don the lycra bodysuit.
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ZizouFC #33 3 months ago

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@Adam

Link please. I'm lazy.
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captain_Carl #34 3 months ago

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@tursachan Again, she's a cosplayer, she does it all as her own choice. It's not like she was undressed at gunpoint and made to put this suit on.
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Casserole #35 3 months ago

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http://static2.videogamer.com/videogamer/media//images/gallery/2023/1400.jpg

A wonderful view
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Halo.Jones #36 3 months ago

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Ami Ledger is not a Wipeout 2048 Developer, she works in the Format QA department in Liverpool.

Edited by Halo.Jones at 22/02/12 @ 12:18
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GAmbrose #37 3 months ago

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So does Ali have learning difficulties or something?
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kirankara #38 3 months ago

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@tursachan

yuop, hardly encourages industry to be taken seriously, or does anything to dismiss the notion of gamers as nerds.
Makes me cringe seeing these launches etc

however, she is darn hot, i have to concede
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madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #39 3 months ago

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I once queued for 36 hours to get live8 tickets - no one kept my spot so I could go home. And I wasn't even at the front.
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beastmaster #40 3 months ago

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Photo 34 = Gratuitous Butt Shot!
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RawShark #41 3 months ago

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@Whitster I took the post saying that his "carers were his friends" as him being healthy - he certainly seemed so when I walked past earlier this week. If I'm mistaken I unreservedly apologise. Still a dork though.
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Nismo400R84 #42 3 months ago

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As it his carers who waited and showed dedication shouldn't they have got the free vita ......come on putting up with this cheeky spacker they deserve it
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Sodding_Gamer #43 3 months ago

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Camel toe on picture 8.
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hello_fi #44 3 months ago

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I for one approve of my taxes going towards services that allow "differently-abled" nerds to get someone to stand in a shop line for them so they can get a handheld.

No wait, not "approve". What's the complete opposite of approve?
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makeamazing #45 3 months ago

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I think some of the comments about the guy at the font, is totally unacceptible.
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Lukree #46 3 months ago

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Is that chick in the pictures plastic or alive? Cannot quite figure out.
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jaguarwong #47 3 months ago

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Fuck sake people the 'carers' line was a joke.

Jesus wept.
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iManiac #48 3 months ago

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I feel sorry for the carer who had to freeze overnight while that guy got to go home and sleep all warm. If anything it should be the carer who gets the free swag as they were the one who did most of the queuing! A true midnight launcher should be prepared to brave the elements and sleep rough for a few nights to show dedication. Not get their carer who I pray is privately funded and not NHS, to have to sleep outside in the rough while that guy gets to go home. That's not caring, that's slave labour.
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kinky_mong #49 3 months ago

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@jaguarwong But customarily jokes are meant to be funny, I think that's what has fooled most people.
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rudedudejude #50 3 months ago

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Do we have these pics in high res?
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FatalHybrid #51 3 months ago

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@iManiac Not to mention brave the travel home with something desirable to thieves in your posession. The whole midnight launch is a true test of a gamers endurance and character.. I still believe all gamers should attend at least one launch.
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Snuffb0t #52 3 months ago

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Did nobody catch the fact that one of the actual devs was on hand? Not even a namecheck for Karl?
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kirankara #53 3 months ago

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@Lukree Im willing to check mate.
personally i would be thrilled to bits to wake up next to that in the morning
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RawShark #54 3 months ago

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@Whitster "Oh you!" (giggles)
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walidb123 #55 3 months ago

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@GAmbrose whatever the case for him personally, well done to him.
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Murbal #56 3 months ago

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I think I'm in love.
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walidb123 #57 3 months ago

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@makeamazing i agree. they're irrelevant and most likely from a bunch of jealous people.
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Enzeru #58 3 months ago

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BOOBS.

My work here is done.
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jaguarwong #59 3 months ago

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@kinky_mong
I think what has fooled most people is the lack of one of these.
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Whitster #60 3 months ago

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@FatalHybrid Attend one? I've worked three of them back in my Gamestation days, and they can fuck right off.
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ronuds #61 3 months ago

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Looking at that guy who was first, I doubt he had anything else going on, so it's not like having to wait by himself would have put him out.

I wonder if the girl thought the EG photographer was creepy for taking so many pics of her?
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kimchibaka #62 3 months ago

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I don't really see how 'carers' could be taken as a joke, and it wouldn't make any sense for his friends to do the harder! overnight shifts for him (or be allowed to) unless they were carers, so I agree that some of these comments are bang out of order.

It looks like he had a great time and was over the moon (his friends look pretty happy too!), so good for him, and good for Game or the Vita people, whoever helped make it happen.

To someone who said he looked healthy enough when they passed him, you have no idea what his illness might be, and it's not really our business now is it?
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stee1gargoyle #63 3 months ago

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Think GAME may have found a way to stop itself from going under ... Just get Ami Ledger to cosplay for every launch they actually manage to get.
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tursachan #64 3 months ago

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@Snuffb0t Yeah shame they didn't bother to talk to Karl. Great guy. Maybe stick him in hotpants next time.
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Sid-Nice #65 3 months ago

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Ali had gone home to sleep each night, his place held by one of his carers before he duly returned each morning.

Obviously you meant to say "Minders" not carers? This proves what shit wages the BBC pay; when a soap star from Eastenders has to queue from Sunday to get freebies.
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_Price_ #66 3 months ago

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As much as I try not to conform to stereotype: Good lord. Miss* Ledger stopped me in my tracks.

*hopefully

Edited by _Price_ at 22/02/12 @ 14:33
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Sid-Nice #67 3 months ago

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@jaguarwong Never mind the "Virgin floaty hand" I can't help but admire Ami's cameltoe.
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UnSubject #68 3 months ago

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I'd suggest the Vita is in trouble if the two most exciting things about the launch was the first person in line and the cosplay woman.

... and even the first person didn't show so much in the way of commitment over being able to get people to do the long night shifts.

Hell, even the byline here is weak: "Around a hundred customers queue". You can practically hear the boredom ooze out of it.
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Bullet_Tunnel #69 3 months ago

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i've only got one set of work trousers left, and ive just mussed them up... im sending eg the dry cleaning bill
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Gao #70 3 months ago

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I can confirm that Ami Ledger is a developer.

.... Well shes developed something in my pants anyway.

*Gets coat and heads for the door.*
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dadrester #71 3 months ago

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She's clearly not just a tester at format QA. No tester can afford those!

Edited by dadrester at 22/02/12 @ 17:14
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Halo.Jones #72 3 months ago

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@dadrester Oh she does. Push up bra can do wonders for making it look like a boob job!

Edited by Halo.Jones at 22/02/12 @ 17:08
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RawShark #73 3 months ago

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Ok, so there's been a few attempts at humour here that have fallen flat but we from this we should at least take the following:
1) The guy is clearly very happy to have got the gear and everyone involved seems happy too. Good for him. I thought about going myself but had *sigh* work in the morning. (*looks at floor, shuffles feet*)
2) Taking shifts in these queue situations apparently works. It may not be hardcore, but lets face it, it's smart.
3) He probably traded in Ridge Racer as soon as he got it. He would have traded in Asphalt as well but Game didn't stock it.
4) Virgin hand = floaty.
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dadrester #74 3 months ago

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@Halo.Jones Fair play. Good coverage for her hobby in either case. Hope Sony Liverpool forked out some extra cash.

We had some girls working in the office who started trying to outdo each other in the dressing up for work in risqu�-fancy-dress-but-just-casual-enough-to-get-away-with-it, stakes. I couldn't stop chuckling the day one came in pretty much dressed as wonderwoman in wellies and the other came in as a cowgirl, complete with denim hotpants and cowboy hat. Even funnier were the reactions of the army of awkward nerds that day. It was like the IT crow incarnate.

Edited by dadrester at 22/02/12 @ 17:16
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Weebleboy #75 3 months ago

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@dadrester By 'chuckling' you mean 'wanking in the disabled toilet'.
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dadrester #76 3 months ago

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Post deleted at 17:01:44 23-02-2012
JamieR #77 3 months ago

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photo 34 for the win
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TheBusterMan #78 3 months ago

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Photo 17.That's the look you get when a woman has caught you stalking her.Photo 18 looks like the photographer's been kneed in the love spuds.Great looking woman,but bet she had a long hot shower when she got home,with all the creeps,and everything.Photo 34,I,m off for a cold shower.
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gjgjg #79 3 months ago

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/applies for job at format QA...
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ghg786 #80 3 months ago

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Zohaib Ali is a disabled young man suffering from many mental disabilities. He had every commitment to be first in the queue for Midnight release and his carers were committed to be there with him! I really do not like the comments being said and people maybe should not be prejudice of how someone is before knowing the real story. His carers loved sleeping outdoor waiting for the vita, they are used to it as they do it for nearly every big release.
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rare_uk #81 3 months ago

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@rudedudejude just increase the last number one by one here http://static2.videogamer.com/videogamer/media//images/gallery/2023/1308.jpg
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