The Black Friday Preparation Thread...

[Akaymay]

Well, we all know how hellish it's going to get. So I've decided to camp out for mine! Here's my plan:

Well, considering my Gamestop isn't going to have a midnight sale (Which is weird, because I was talking to the guy who owns the store, and he was saying "We're not having a midnight sale, but this game is going to sell just like GHI, it'll go on shelves, and we won't see it for weeks, but there just isn't enough hype for the game yet", I mean, hell, it only won BEST GAME OF E3!)

Anyway, I digress. My first order of business is wake up early, like, around 8 AM. Then go to my nearest supermarket and pick up a bunch of "Halo 3 Gamer Fuels" and "5-hour energy"''s. Then go back home, and sleep again, I'll need my energy. And considering me and like, 5 other people are going, there will SURLY be a line, considering it's Black Friday, the soccer moms will see us camping out, and surly enough join the line for no reason at all. Then, I'll just play GHI, GHII, and Rock the 80's till about 10PM, then go to the Gamestop. Now, we'll need time-wasters. Luckily, my one friend is just stupid enough to own one of those gas-powered electricity generators, so he'll bring his portable TV and PS2 to play some more GH, and I'll bring my Gibson SG (A real one, mind you) and my amp, and just chill there for a few hours. Of course, we'll need nourishment. That's where the Gamer Fuels and 5-hour Energy's come in! We'll chug one every few hours (Yeah, we'll get like, 20 them). And like, 2 stores down they have a 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts! So there's our food for the night. So, we'll have entertainment: Some GH and real guitar jams. We'll have our nourishment and energy. Dude, we're set. Now, it's just the waiting game until that day finally arrives...

What are your plans?

[milkman4591]

Haha pre-order from amazon and try to make time go faster by knocking myself into a coma (jumping off friends roof). Hopefully I'll wake up around December 1st with RB waiting for me at home.

[toefer]

I'll probably roll out of bed around 11am'ish, hop in the car and drive to GameStop to pick up the pre-order. And if it's not there waiting for me, then I'll yell at someone as long as it takes to feel better.

[jq71586]

Um, going to my local GameCrazy where I am still the only person to have pre-ordered it for the PS3. I could camp out, but it's really not a great neighborhood and I'd be all alone. Black Friday doesn't really affect my city. We don't have a mall. Black Friday destroys the smaller surrounding cities where the malls were built.

[Maherj]

Being in Canada, Black Friday doesn't exist (Thank god), so it's just going to be like any other Friday. My pre-order will be ready for me after work. But very cool that you have a campout plan. Hardcore fan!

[masterx1918]

wow. I can just imagine seeing a kid standing outside of my gamestop playing a gibson SG. sadly that's pretty pathetic. If you have a pre-order why bother waiting for the store opens to wait in line? Just go into the damn store after it opens and get your game that YOU pre-ordered. It's your game you don't have to worry about someone else buying it. Personaly i'm getting it that friday afternoon after the black friday craze is over.

[Xzyliac]

Log onto the internet, put mine on pre-order, sleep.

[bounchfx]

I'm going to get there a little early, sure, but I'm not going to camp out. I pre ordered one, so I'm going to get one. I'll be there early just to be in front of a few people (if there are any, which there will be), and so I can get it asap. I'm not worried about not getting one.

Can't wait!

[Supergeek]

Pre-order.

[Schreibs21]

i pre-ordered but if best buy has something that I'm interested in I'll go and camp out there (I did last year, it was fun, people order pizza and **** like that) after I'm done there I'll go across the street and go pick up my pre-order and go home and play!

[PsycoCheerio]

I'll just be there like 15mins before the place opens and hope my friend wont be an ass and will let me take my pre-order and leave instead of holding it back there and making me wait...cause he can be kinda stupid like that...

[masterx1918]

I just don't know where to pre order from. I think I can pre order from wal mart online and pick up in store but i'm not sure

[SmokaCola]

Pre-ordering it then passing the time with GHII & III :p

[milesodanglers]

Hmmm... well considering thanksgiving is the day before i would have off that week, and i would probably eat thanksgiving dinner, have desert and i would be tired by then, set my alarm clock and then wake up go out pick up my pre-order, go home and commence rocking.

[devo193]

Me, two of my friends, and my 26 year-old brother are going to Wal-Mart, getting a few chainsaws, electric mind you cause gas is damn expensive, and shredding through hordes of people to get to the Gamestop to realize that they sold out. Then go and find the last person to buy one and rob him.

[sa_nick]

Ahh, u guys suck. It's not about doing what's practical, its about doing what rocks!

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l168/SA_NICK/akaymaypoints.jpg

Oh and also I'm in Australia, no black friday... also no 2007 release. I'm still pre-ordering and getting it shipped here though:D

[Xzyliac]

We can't all be the Dream Slayer. Some people have other things to attend to. Like a real concert in Texas.

[Pandacon]

I got it preordered, and I'm taking the week off from work, so I'll waltz in there in the morning and grab it, then play it through the whole weekend. My family doesn't do thanksgiving, so I got plenty of time to play :)

[Apples]

According to my amazon.com preorder, the goods ship on the 23rd for delivery on the 26th, so I'll just go with that.

Not as glamorous as an all night camp out, but I don't risk crashing on a sugar overdose and lack of sleep. :D

[DShiz1029]

*lights insense and a circle of candles and sits in the middle and meditates*

[TheRocker]

Get shotgun , brute hammer , auger rifle and laser whip.Ride to BestBuy , make way through the masses of people , get my hands on a Special edition , run for my life pay the lady , get in the car go home lock the doors Play RockBand with Jq , LZ , Mountain King , Sa_nick and Ibanezz

[Rocker2]

that's funny

[Electric_Zen]

What are your plans?

I admire your passion.

But I have to admit, if I waited all night in the New Jersey cold, overcaffeinating myself the entire time, by the time I got Rock Band in the morning I would be too strung out to properly enjoy it.

I'll get a good night's sleep and pick it up when the store opens. My Gamestop is not inside a mall, so it is usually almost empty on Black Friday. The Flood swarms the Wal-Marts, the Best Buys, and the malls that morning.

[aaron_wil]

Well, we all know how hellish it's going to get. So I've decided to camp out for mine! Here's my plan:

Well, considering my Gamestop isn't going to have a midnight sale (Which is weird, because I was talking to the guy who owns the store, and he was saying "We're not having a midnight sale, but this game is going to sell just like GHI, it'll go on shelves, and we won't see it for weeks, but there just isn't enough hype for the game yet", I mean, hell, it only won BEST GAME OF E3!)

Anyway, I digress. My first order of business is wake up early, like, around 8 AM. Then go to my nearest supermarket and pick up a bunch of "Halo 3 Gamer Fuels" and "5-hour energy"''s. Then go back home, and sleep again, I'll need my energy. And considering me and like, 5 other people are going, there will SURLY be a line, considering it's Black Friday, the soccer moms will see us camping out, and surly enough join the line for no reason at all. Then, I'll just play GHI, GHII, and Rock the 80's till about 10PM, then go to the Gamestop. Now, we'll need time-wasters. Luckily, my one friend is just stupid enough to own one of those gas-powered electricity generators, so he'll bring his portable TV and PS2 to play some more GH, and I'll bring my Gibson SG (A real one, mind you) and my amp, and just chill there for a few hours. Of course, we'll need nourishment. That's where the Gamer Fuels and 5-hour Energy's come in! We'll chug one every few hours (Yeah, we'll get like, 20 them). And like, 2 stores down they have a 24-hour Dunkin' Donuts! So there's our food for the night. So, we'll have entertainment: Some GH and real guitar jams. We'll have our nourishment and energy. Dude, we're set. Now, it's just the waiting game until that day finally arrives...

What are your plans?


I'm afraid that my plans are not as glamorous. I will wake about 1:00am. Get ready for work at my good job. I live 1 1/2 hrs away, so I will commence driving about 1:30 to get there at 3:00. I will then work until about 2:30-3:00 or so. Then during the next hour, I will go next door to the mall, roundhouse kick anyone that gets in my way in the face. I then will pickup my preorder at gamestop (that was paid in full, so they better not "accidentally" sell it) and proceed to my second (****ty) job to work the remainder of the day, and by day I mean 11:59pm. By that time, I will leave to go home (still 1 1/2 hrs away), and get home about 1:30am. If I still have any energy left at all, I will probably look at the box for about 20 mins and fall asleep. I then will wake up and rock for about 3 days!!

[AdamBomb629]

I plan on being at Gamestop probably 30 minutes before opening (don't know what time they plan on opening yet, but I bet 8 or 9) and picking up my pre-order. THE END.

[obsoleteshock]

I'm going to use my GHII method that worked really well. This should help anyone make sure that they get the game as soon as possible. Stop immediately when you find the game or your copy arrives in the mail:

Step #1: Place pre-order for BOTH the bundle and the drumset at Gamestop.
Stop #2: Order the bundle from an online retailer.
Step #3: Call Wal Mart the day before it comes out and get confirmation that you can pick up a copy at midnight. Make a list of three different 24-hour Wal Marts that say you can pick it up and go to the closest one with a list of the other numbers. I picked up my GHII at midnight with no problems and they had shopping carts full to choose from. If you can't get it from the first, immediately drive to the second or third. If that doesn't work, go to bed and proceed to next step in the morning.
Step #4: Go to a Target a couple of hours before opening in the morning and get in line to wade through the crowds to try to get a copy. If they are all out proceed to next step.
Step #5: Go to Gamestop to pick up your preorder. Take the bundle if they have it, but be willing to accept the drumset and a copy of the game if that's all they have. You can get by with a GH controller and USB microphone if the drumset by itself is all you can get at this point. If none of these are available proceed to next step.
Step #6: Drive around frantically trying to find any retailer that has a copy. Keep a phone book in your car and drive a pre-planned route to save time and make as frequent stops at likely places as possible. Keep a list of phone numbers in the car and call to inquire on availability at each place before you go there. If they don't have it, skip to the next place on your list.
Step #7: You are not going to get the drumset today. Go buy a copy of the game and a USB microphone, go home and enjoy the singing/bass/guitar parts of the game until your drumset comes in the mail or you get a call from Gamestop.

This is overkill, so you should probably have the bundle by step 3. Make sure you are smart with return policies and/or teaming up with friends to avoid having too many copies of the game by the end. Another step between #2 and #3 could be to watch these forums and scorehero forums for reports of retailers breaking the street date. I got GH 80's the weekend before it was supposed to come out by going to Toys R Us from a forum tip. Keep an especially close eye on retailers who had the date incorrectly listed early in the leadup to the release; that is exactly what happened with Toys R Us. If none of this works, then the launch of this game was either botched big time, the demand was MUCH larger than anyone anticipated (like the Wii) or the universe hates you. For Harmonix's sake, hopefully it would be the demand.

[Keebler]

Step 1. Have game preordered in store - DONE
Step 2. Enjoy Thanksgiving
Step 3. Convince video game nut of a cousin to come along with me
Step 4. Stay up all night playing video games
Step 5. Collect Thanksgiving leftovers
Step 6. Adventure to mall where GameStop is at 5 AM (with no idea when store officially opens)
Step 7. If necessary, camp out
Step 8. Receive large box of Rock Band related items after store attendant swipes my credit card
Step 9. Rush home and open large box of Rock Band related items - START PLAYING

[Eman311]

I might get it a few days later, but i just don't have the time to wait on black friday.

[tf5_bassist]

I'll be working from 6:30am-3:00pm... it'll be all I can do to not cash my check that day and go buy it on the way home.

If this happens, I'm sure that near-instant murderdeath will happen when my wife sees.

Now, the debate is, will it be worth half an hour of play before she storms out of the house or not. lmao.

[peachpunker63]

pre ordered mine from eb games with overnight shipping so it will get at my house around 4:00 p.m, Cant wait. Thats why i have guitar hero 3 to hold me over until november

[aaron_wil]

... it'll be all I can do to not cash my check that day and go buy it on the way home.

If this happens, I'm sure that near-instant murderdeath will happen when my wife sees.

Now, the debate is, will it be worth half an hour of play before she storms out of the house or not. lmao.

Why not preorder at gamestop, drop a $20 bill at the end of every week, by the time rock band arrives, you either have paid it off, or are really damn close. That is, assuming that you can preorder and pay more each week. I think you can do that. I may be wrong.

[GrenadeJumper]

I can wait to wake up the day it comes out and see it sitting at my doorstep.. lol

[rockst01]

My plans are to wake up and drive to the store I preorded it from and then drive home. Why camp out if you are guaranteed a copy?

[toefer]

I can wait to wake up the day it comes out and see it sitting at my doorstep.. lol


pre ordered mine from eb games with overnight shipping so it will get at my house around 4:00 p.m, Cant wait. Thats why i have guitar hero 3 to hold me over until november

I'm not sure if it's been confirmed yet or not, but there is a very good chance that online pre-orders aren't going to be arriving on the street date. While normally a company can ship the game out early, to have it arrive in time, Rock Band runs into the problem of being released the day after Thanksgiving...and UPS apparently isn't making deliveries that day.

I, too, was going to pre-order online, until I heard about this problem.

[jonfitzsimon]

I unfortunately work that morning as well, so on my way home from work i will pick up my pre-ordered copy.

[xfMike]

Well, my plans are/have been something like this:

1. Pre-Order in full - Nearly done, I have ~$30 and tax left to pay and I'll have The Bundle paid in full. I'm in no hurry, though I want the whole thing paid off by the time Novemeber even gets here.

2. Request Black Friday off from work - Also, I have requested my time off, now I am just hoping it gets taken care of (someone still needs to do my job that day, so someone needs to be found to fill the spot). Requesting Black Friday off is good because I will also be able to enjoy a much needed 4 day weekend.

3. Find someone to pick up the game with me. Considering the amount of traffic, idiots and over all chaos, I do not feel comfortable even thinking about going to The Mall/Game Stop alone. Also, I want someone to be with me when I pick up the game itself as, though I know not what the size of The Bundle will be, my hands will be full from carrying the box, and I can just see someone trying to swipe it from me.

4. Wake up early and wait for Game Stop/The Mall to open. Unfortunately our Game Stop is inside of a mall. I plan on probably bringing my girlfriend with me, and her and I will wait out for an hour or two before the mall opens (I don't plan on going super early, as I do have a pre order, but I want to be there when the mall opens).

5. On my, God willing, safe trip back home, I plan on playing Rock Band with my girlfriend and family all day... then all day the following Saturday and Sunday. I'll probably bring The Bundle over to my girlfriend's house so her family can play as well.

[BeckRokk]

I won my copy of Rock Band on that Xfire chat that was held some time back, but they have told me absolutely nothing about what exactly it is I won. My heart is telling me that it's the full bundle, but me head is telling me it's the game with a Strat and that's it. If I find out ahead of time what I'm getting, then I can arrange to get another Strat, the drums, and a mic early. Otherwise, I'll have to go shopping after Black Friday and hope to god I can find the remaining pieces, although I've read that the seperate pieces won't be sold until January.

Hell hath no fury like a man deprived of his mutlicolored plastic instruments.

[Young_Nastyman]

That is, assuming that you can preorder and pay more each week. I think you can do that. I may be wrong.

You can, thats how I paid off mine. It's funny tho, i have been adding money to my reserve since july, after the price drop, with tax, i had over paid by 30 cents. So when i pick up my copy it looks like Gamestop is paying me 30 cents to take Rock Band :p

[Bakkster]

1) Go to GameStop in the morning.
2) Don't die (this is the tricky one)
3) Go home and play.

Hopefully my girlfriend will be in town visiting, meaning we will be making a 2-person band (her on drums, me on bass and vox) and playing all day :D

[ThePaska]

I can wait to wake up the day it comes out and see it sitting at my doorstep.. lol

Same here, I have no urge to test out the Black Friday crowd. I pre-ordered it and am having it shipped to me, that way the game comes to me, and not the other way around, which is so nice.

[AVC808]

I'm not sure if it's been confirmed yet or not, but there is a very good chance that online pre-orders aren't going to be arriving on the street date. While normally a company can ship the game out early, to have it arrive in time, Rock Band runs into the problem of being released the day after Thanksgiving...and UPS apparently isn't making deliveries that day.

I, too, was going to pre-order online, until I heard about this problem.

i still have a feeling all those that preorder online and pick those guaranteed shipping options will see the game before black friday.

i'll be picking it up locally, and hopefully before the release date. i dont have any friends, but sometimes clerks dont even know and just check the back for stock and sell it to you. im surprised no one here is gonna try to get it in their hands before black friday. it's gotta be in stock before thanksgiving.

[Feigned]

I believe retailers are going to be taking stock on that Tuesday, though I can't rightly recall which thread I saw that in. I would be quite surprised if no one did manage to get a copy early.

[Simonious]

Pre-order. But if my friends weren't total dumbasses (lol campin 4 stuff 4 noobz rofl) I so would camp out. Camping by self FTL.

[xfMike]

I believe retailers are going to be taking stock on that Tuesday, though I can't rightly recall which thread I saw that in. I would be quite surprised if no one did manage to get a copy early.

You may have read my post in another "Black Friday" thread (The Official Release Date thread I believe).

I had posted my convo I had with my local game Stop employee. He said that they will be getting it in that Tuesday, and will release it that Friday. If someone does get it before Black Friday, expect it to be that Wednesday night. As Thanksgiving is the day after, nothing will be done about it until Friday, and by then it might not even matter because the fact it is Black Friday... so if any of you are lucky/have connections, I wouldn't be surprised if you post about getting on that Wednesday night.

[Feigned]

You may have read my post in another "Black Friday" thread (The Official Release Date thread I believe).

I had posted my convo I had with my local game Stop employee. He said that they will be getting it in that Tuesday, and will release it that Friday. If someone does get it before Black Friday, expect it to be that Wednesday night. As Thanksgiving is the day after, nothing will be done about it until Friday, and by then it might not even matter because the fact it is Black Friday... so if any of you are lucky/have connections, I wouldn't be surprised if you post about getting on that Wednesday night.

Yup, that sounds like the one!

[Quastor]

i dont have any friends

My condolences to you, sir. There's always Band World Tour though, as long as they don't call a band meeting and end up kicking you out of the band.

As for my plans, nothing too crazy. Plan on getting up and being at the gamestop I preordered at about 15-30 minutes before they open. I'm off work that day, so they rest of the day will be a rockfest. I will have to get my fill in that day, as I'll be taking a weekend trip into Chicago the next day for a concert.

[miketoast]

My plan is simple:

- Stuff myself Thanksgiving Day with whatever turkey and fixin's I can get my palms on

- Roll my way over to the couch and use my remote wand (my engorged fingers will be unable to press the buttons sufficiently) to turn on the football game

- Take major dump(s) to clear bowels

- Shower clean turkey dingleberries

- Whack out a quickie to get the hands and wrists limber for play

- Sleep like newborn

- Wake up and sit at window like nosy old next door neighbor and wait for deliveryman to drop off gamestop online preorder***

- Rock like a mother ****er rest of weekend


***Should no deliveries arrive due to fact it's the day after Thanksgiving, cry and repeat steps with leftovers

[AVC808]

My condolences to you, sir. There's always Band World Tour though, as long as they don't call a band meeting and end up kicking you out of the band.

As for my plans, nothing too crazy. Plan on getting up and being at the gamestop I preordered at about 15-30 minutes before they open. I'm off work that day, so they rest of the day will be a rockfest. I will have to get my fill in that day, as I'll be taking a weekend trip into Chicago the next day for a concert.

:o i totally set myself up with that one!

[m0nk3ys1ms]

Let's see....

I'll probably wake up on Thanksgiving, play some Guitar Hero 3, stuff my face, play some more GH3 then go to bed at like 7:00pm. I'll probably wake up about 1am to take a piss and then head back to bed for a few more hours. I play on being like the first one in the door at Gamestop where I have the bundle reserved for 360. I'll take it home and won't leave the house until it's time to go back to school on the next Monday :(

[Yordakin]

1. Wake up 23rd of November.
2. Drive to GameStop.
3. Walk in and walk out with big rockin box.
4. Drive home.
5. Have an all day RockBand party.
6. Wake up hungover the next day.
7. Be called a n00b for making some meaningless clerical error regarding where and how I post my first impressions on these forums.