Fans were hyped as they lined the street to buy the new game and console!
Nintendo launches are often momentous, but it isn’t often that a remake of one of the greatest games ever made comes along. Such was the case last night when The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released for Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendojo crew headed to Union Square to be there for the 9 PM launch festivities at Nintendo San Francisco.
I was 12 when the original Ocarina of Time launched on Nintendo 64. It was quite the buildup to that game, back in the day; years of staring at screenshots in Nintendo Power convinced that it wasn’t possible for a video game to look that good. When it finally came out, it was probably one of the most formative experiences of my childhood; not just as a game, but as a work of art and entertainment that impacted so many different things in my burgeoning creative mind. I wanted to explore every inch of Hyrule, I wanted to draw every detail from the waters of Lake Hylia to the seems of Link’s tunic, and I wanted to tell grand stories about good versus evil, all because of that game.
Walking into Nintendo SF for the launch of the remake felt somewhat surreal. Sure, it wasn’t the launch for the original, but I’m sure there was a similar energy in the air as there was last night. People were bustling around shopping, but you could feel the anticipation among everyone. The clock ticked along at a snail’s pace as we checked in with the PR team and tried to keep ourselves occupied waiting for 9 PM to come. We eventually wound up at the Pinecrest Diner for dinner. The food was great as always, but I also didn’t have much appetite. I was just too anxious.
Eventually we were back in the store checking in again. We stood downstairs watching as customers were whisked out, the Nintendo SF team prepping to close briefly before the launch. I spotted a man out the corner of my eye standing off to the side near where the big projector screen is. He looked so familiar, but I couldn’t quite peg who it was. I leaned in to tell my sister that I was pretty sure he was someone in the industry, maybe an executive or a dev. The name continued to escape me until we had gone back upstairs and I asked one of the PR reps who it was, to which she replied, “Oh, I think that’s Bill. Bill Trinen.”
I knew I recognized him! The Vice President, Player & Product Experience of Nintendo of America and a longtime localizer, I’d seen his face numerous times over the years. I was pleased with my stores of nerd knowledge being useful as we walked next door to the Westin St. Francis Hotel to chill in the lounge area just past the front doors. The turn-of-the-century European grandeur enveloped us as I soaked in its Beaux-Arts marble and tile interior; low lights, greenery, the chatter of people, music playing in the background. I sipped on a Diet Coke and enjoyed the ambiance, still thinking about 9 PM and Ocarina of Time.
It was about a quarter to nine by the time we went back to check in for the last time at the store. Throngs of people lined the sidewalk waiting to get in. Fellow fans and nerds who were either there to re-experience Ocarina of Time or play it for the first time. Eventually, the press was allowed to start filing in to film and photograph the first sale at the counter. A countdown took place outside as fans loudly shouted “Three! Two! One!” Then everyone started to make their way inside. It was a lot of raw emotion for many of the customers in line. We finally got to say hi to Bill Trinen right before we were sent downstairs to make our own purchases.
It was quite the crowd downstairs. Some of the customers from the sidewalk had been sent down there with us, but it was also a lot of media personalities, too. I got to talk a bit with VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi, who was incredibly nice. Tracy Leeds Kaplan of The Ten News podcast was also there debating which of the Zelda goodies to take home to her family. The line meandered, with purchases slowly taking place as people pondered just how much they could get away with putting on their credit cards that night. And finally, after what felt like an interminable wait, I was standing at the register staring poverty in the face as I made my purchases.
On the way out, the Nintendo SF staff gave us one, last batch of goodies as a thank you for being at the launch; a giant 40th anniversary Zelda poster and frame, a commemorative card (which there might be more of on the way, apparently), and a cool little Zelda wall scroll. Our cousin commented on how so many of the people there at Nintendo SF had traveled to be there. Many were frustrated realizing they’d have to find a way to get those big posters on the plane without damaging them. It was a testament to just how important a launch the new Ocarina of Time was to the people there last night. And it was a lot of fun. Now, to finish the game and let you all know what we think of it. In the meantime, why not let us know if you got to go to either Nintendo SF or New York down in the comments and on social media!