A SURREAL MOMENT

I went to watch True Grit at the cinema last night. It's a fantastic film and well worth watching. On the way back I decided to go to the midnight launch of Killzone 3 for the PS3 at the Trafford Center - one of the largest shopping malls in the UK. I figured it would save me having to go out on Friday morning to get it and I also wanted to get Bulletstorm and pre-order the Nintendo 3DS whilst I was there.

I got there at about 11.30pm and decided to wait in the car a while. At about 11.45pm I decided to go in. I was tired and didn't want to be stood in a massive queue as what happened when I went to the Gran Turismo 5 launch a few months ago.

As I approach Game I noticed that there was no one stood outside. That was not to be unexpected as their usual policy is to allow people into the store to pick up the copy of the game they want and then queue until midnight when they can officially scan the game through the tills.

When I got there and looked inside the store, there was no one but the staff there. Literally I was the only consumer in the whole of the Trafford Centre. I say this because Game was the only store that was open and the other outlet downstairs had their shutter down and no one was stood outside.

Rather than keep me waiting, the good folks there dealt with my order and sorted out my 3DS pre-order as well. It was so surreal being the only consumer in such a huge shopping mall! I got a sense what it must feel like to be one of those celebrities that get to access shops outside of opening hours in order to do their shopping hassle free.

As much as I whine about how other people annoy me, there was something quite eerie and discomforting about being the sole focus of attention from three sales assistants in an empty shop. Walking out of the dimly lit shopping center alone you cannot help but start to feel a bit self conscious about it. I suppose it has to do with the fact that places like that are usually so busy and to be in there when there are no other people wandering about feels naturally wrong if that makes any sense.

As I got back to the car another person pulled up and asked me if Game was open. I held my bag up and said yes. I don't know how many people went to the midnight launch after me, but the experience of having an entire shopping mall to myself for those 15 or 20 minutes is one that will stay with me for a while.