Journey through Market East

I haven't been to a brick and mortar game store in quite some time.  That changed two weeks ago, when I decided Street Fighter x Tekken (SFxT) is something to experience on launch day.  While I had plenty on my to-do list, I had been looking forward to this.  I even avoided buying it online, because I feared for the possible tardiness in delivery.  As I made my way into center city Philly, something unknown began to tug at my mind.  It felt like a warning, similar to the moment before you touch a scalding object.  I shrugged the feeling away, determined to reach my destination.

Before I continue, I should clarify why SFxT holds such high esteem in my heart.  Way back before I was deeply absorbed by gaming on the pc, portable devices, or even the console, there was the arcade.  Wonderful, exciting arcade.  The addiction was undeniable, as I would spend every free moment of my childhood there.  If you've never experienced a proper local arcade setting, it is hard for me to describe how stimulating the experience is.  When you first arrive at the arcade, it's as if a hundred adventure portals are just begging you to enter.  Every game cabinet promises a different experience and with your limited quarters, you must choose wisely.  Some people prefer shoot 'em ups (bullet hell), others prefer side scrollers.  However, to truly understand the magic of an arcade, you must devote yourself to the King of Cabinets, the Lord of Joysticks, the God of Quarters: the Fighting game genre.

And what is so appealing about fighting games, you ask?  Well, you should look first to the lay of the land.  In any respectable establishment, there will undoubtedly be a gathering of fighting fans.  And in this gathering, they will only be gathered around one prized machine.  The newest and latest fighting game.  Freshly released, this new game cabinet will have cost the manager a pretty penny.  But it is well worth his money, as word travels fast among the fighting community.  Yes, it will be a long wait for your chance to play, but the manager hopes you try all the other machines as you wait.  Back at the center of action, the quarters never stop flowing.  This is where you find the long lines, the rising stars, the local champ.  Take your place in line, and observe your opponent before it's your turn.  Hopefully, you already know the basics before you sit down.

As soon as you enter the space of 2p (Player 2), every move you make will be scrutinized.  How are you sitting on the stool?  How is your posture?  Most importantly, how are you holding your joystick?  All this is taken in, as each player makes his/her speculations about each other.  Then you begin to choose your character.  Even in this, there is much to be said.  Do you immediately go with the most popular choice?  Do you wait for your opponent to pick first?  Do you keep waiting if he waits too?  Do you hover over one choice for a long time only to quickly change your mind at the last moment?  Usually, this process elicits some kind of response from the players, and you can make a few mental notes on the reaction.  Sighing or snorting may be construed as them thinking your choice is cheap.  Meaning there might be certain moves they're not adept at countering.  Tuck that information away.  Other responses might include nonchalance or visible excitement.  Those are harder to read.  Sometimes, even the physical attire of the person next to you is telling.  Depending on the time of day, various walks of life will frequent an arcade.  During the daytime, it might be delinquent students, the unemployed, or people on break.  While daytime patrons are fewer, they can be quite skilled as they have the luxury of honing their skills without pressure.  As school and work lets out, the competition becomes fierce.  Regulars begin to fill in and in a matter of a few rounds, the dominant champion will assert his presence.  Once secure in his seat, it will be up to the rest to dethrone him.

At this point, I can lie and say I was naturally skilled and slew my opposition left and right.  Sadly, that's simply not true.  I paid "tuition", the quarter price, much like everyone else.  Worse, being young and near sighted, my parents frowned on giving me allowance for video games.  While my personal play time was limited, I would linger near the cabinets and watch others play.  My brother was quite good, and I learned a good deal from him.  Among other things, I also learned that "strolling at the market" for him is synonymous for Street Fighter.  I even tailed him once and didn't tattle.  He was quite honest in all other regards.

Put simply, my childhood was filled with classics such as Fatal Fury, Samurai Showdown, Street Fighter, KoF, and many many others.  While I was never very good, I actually gleaned a good deal of street wisdom from the arcade.  The quiet ones often played with a trick up their sleeve.  The straightforward ones rarely changed their tactics, hoping to win it all by luck.  Some people trash talk a lot, but don't mean what they say.  Some people just aren't decent.  Due to my accent, I would often use profane slurs that sounded the same once you shouted them.  Mostly, I kept quiet and blended in.  It was the most enjoyable part of my childhood.

Back to my original story.  As I made my way to the EB Games at Market East Station, I felt a little giddy.  The nagging feeling was still there, but didn't seem to have anything to do with SFxT's release.  When I saw the line at the store, I actually grinned.  Waiting wasn't a problem, it simply showed that people all cared enough to wait in a physical line.  I took my place and waited my turn.  When the lady finally called me to the counter, I asked without hesitation: "One PS3 copy of SFxT please."
Straight faced, she responded "Did you reserve it?"
I answered, "No, but your website showed that this store has plenty in stock."  
She continued her expressionless stare and said, "I can't sell it to you unless you reserve something."
The nagging feeling returned.
I paused for a second and said "Huh?  I just want to buy a copy of SFxT."
"I CAN'T sell you a copy unless you reserve something," she responded.
"But I don't want anything."
"I CAN'T sell you a copy unless you reserve something.  Isn't there something you want?  Assassin's Creed?  Resident Evil?"
I narrowed my eyes.  An employee at the next cashier muttered to her, "All joking aside, I don't think we even have copies to sell."
Incredulously, I asked her, "You don't even have copies to sell?"
She answered, "Well, yeah, everyone knows that you HAVE to reserve games in order to get them on launch day."
I narrowed my eyes to a slit and frowned visibly.  I pointed to the stack of SFxT behind and said, "So every copy you have is reserved and you have none left."
Her tone practically chastising, "Yes, people reserved mooonths in advance.  Everybody knows this!"

Suddenly, the nagging feeling became clear.  This had happened before.  A few months ago, I had also tried to buy another game from EB.  It wasn't on launch day and it wasn't even a particularly popular title.  The cashier had ALSO patronized me about the importance of reserving for games.  I had written the incident off, thinking it was just an one-off case.

With rekindled anger welling inside me, I distanced myself from the store as quickly as possible.  I missed lab time for this?  I wasn't going to get SFxT because of EB's piss poor policies?  As I stormed through Market East Station, a poster suddenly managed to catch my eye.  Is that...a SFxT poster in...FYE?  Like many mythical brands, no one knows why For Your Entertainment is still in business, but I was desperate at this point.  I walked in and unbelievably, I walked out three minutes later with a copy of the game.

As I passed by EB, I shot daggers with my eyes at the employees and muttered a curse for the chain to burn to the ground.