Friendly crowd gathers for PS3 launch

It's Thursday night, it's cold, and thirty-six people are in line at the Best Buy in West Knoxville waiting to claim one of thirty-four Playstation 3s.

With all of the problems going on in places like here, here, and here, the decision by these fans to wait outside for so long was a risky one. John and I joined them to find out if they'd had any such problems, as well as to learn just what would drive them to risk robbery, gunfire, and hypothermia to be the first to own Sony's newest console.

The atmosphere of the area is one of optimism, anticipation, and friendliness. There are tents set up with generators for heaters, televisions, and various video games. Everyone is just excited to be there.

We talked to the gentlemen at the front of the line, all of them students from Bearden High School. The eight of them have been waiting in front of Best Buy since Monday. Brian Jobe (17), was the first in line. He gave us a rundown of what has gone on since he's been there.

Brian and seven friends arrived at 4:30 on Monday afternoon. As the first in line, they decided it was their obligation to make the entire experience an enjoyable one for everybody. They made numbered t-shirts for the first twenty-four people, including themselves, as well as started a list which they pasted to the wall.

When asked about any animosity from those who arrived later, Brian told us that while there was some bickering early on regarding what constituted "leaving the line," but that such arguments were eventually dissipated. The storm Wednesday night, which blew over tents and televisions, was something of a bonding experience, he told us, during with they all banded together and fetched nearby large rocks to hold down things.

Support from the community has been enormous. Parents have brought food, girlfriends have shown support to their boys and even held their places in line. One morning at nearly six o'clock, the campers were awakened to the sound of air- and car horns, as well as shouts that the "geeks" should "get jobs" and that they have "brought the classifieds" for them. After much mumbling and shouting for the offenders to go away, the campers finally exited their tents to be greeted by a local news team, who treated them to a hot breakfast before covering their story.

Brian told us that "I don't think there's anywhere I'd rather be."