During that time, Krivda met fellow gamers, conducted more interviews than a U.S. senator, and had been treated like royalty by a swarm of Sony public relations employees. In fact, Sony made sure that pretty much anyone who waited was in a good mood. The Japanese electronics giant fed the crowd three times, passed out sweatshirts and hired comedians to entertain everyone. Like others, Bibb had come primarily because of the allure surrounding the game console. Reviews of Sega's Dreamcast, meanwhile, left her cold.
Software is another draw.
Although only 26 games are available at the launch, Sony is promising a quick flood of other titles. Although shoppers maintained their patience for hours, order began to deteriorate around 11 p.m. At that time, Sony had let everyone into the cavernous Metreon but seemed unsure what to do with the crowd. Four men in orange jumpsuits guarded a plate of cookies. Public relations managers and cameramen were shouting as if the event were a NASA launch.