Waiting Game for avid fans
They have been waiting for its release for three years – and so sacrificing a few hours sleep was nothing for dozens of gaming fans who queued outside a Wolverhampton store to be among the first to get their hands on it.
And some of the 50-strong crowd who waited patiently outside the branch of Game, in Dudley Street, had even booked today off work so they could play the new Resident Evil 5 throughout the night.
The store held a special opening at midnight to celebrate the release of the game, which has an adult rating and is the latest in the cult horror series.
First in line was gaming fanatic Matthew McLachlan, who arrived at 9pm. "I am always first here," said the 25-year-old Iceland worker from Bushbury, who went along with his uncle Andy Rogers, a 42-year-old warehouse worker.
"I absolutely just love my games and Resident Evil is just fantastic."
Game manager Jenny Devaney handed out sweets to the fans before the doors opened. Karl Houlden and Jason Barlow, both computer design students at Wolverhampton University, also made a special trip to pick up their pre-ordered copies of the hotly-anticipated game.
"I booked the night off work behind the bar at the Giffard Arms so I could get to the opening," said 20-year-old Karl, originally from Liverpool. More than 820 people had pre-ordered the new game from the shop to make sure they got their hands on a copy. And, as well as the midnight opening, the store also re-opened early at 7am today for those who could not make it at midnight.
Debbie Nock, a 36-year-old sales adviser from Parkfields took 18-year-old son Jack Deakin along to the midnight launch. Jack had made sure he booked today off college to allow him more playing time. "He's absolutely obsessed with games," said Debbie.
"He will play them for hours on end." Store manager Jenny has held five similar midnight openings at the branch since taking over three years ago. "Openings like this are on demand and there is definitely the demand for it here," she said.
The Game shop inside West Bromwich's Queens Square shopping centre did not open to sell Resident Evil 5 until 8am. Deputy manager John Till said six people were waiting outside to get their copy.
He said: "We still have lots left. I think the hardcore fans were all out at the shops that opened at midnight."
