So… Diablo 3… You would think people have been waiting a lifetime for the game. Actually, twelve year olds have been, while the rest have been waiting at least a major fraction of their lives. But really, 8000 midnight launches worldwide with around 20 (I’m guessing here as I don’t have enough digits to count on) in South Africa – overkill maybe?

Not if Kalahari.com’s efforts are anything to go by. Gone are the awkward launches where gamers spend three hours staring at each other from opposite sides of a shop (like school kids at the dance) waiting to be told: “It’s midnight. We can give you your game now.” Wow thanks for the atmosphere…

Anyway, “Evil is coming” reads the strapline for the long awaited Diablo 3. I was surprised that the run up to the game’s launch had not meant dark skies with forked lightning and blistering cracks in the ground, but that all changed as I drove through Salt River (have you driven through there at night?) on my way to the venue for what might be an online retailers first gaming midnight launch of this magnitude. The rather appropriate setting of Gandalf’s (Lower Main Road in Observatory) was already starting to heave with the eager masses in there. At first glance one would’ve been forgiven for thinking the bar was charging exorbitant prices as everyone appeared to be congregating around Genevieve ‘KomboKitten’ Lesch and the cosplay folk. Nice costumes people, but the bar is free. And so is the mountain of pizza. See you all soon.

Eager to get the night’s entertainment under way, Category Manager for Games at Kalahari.com Ramone Pickover ushered the masses upstairs to watch the two artists preparing to perform (or distract) the crowd for the next hour or so. While I had every intention to do my best impersonation of a zombie being clubbed to death by a Barbarian, it was Tombstone Pete who kicked off proceedings with his rendition of AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’. The music coming from this “one man army” and his acoustic guitar is something to behold and I’d suggest taking the opportunity next time he plays somewhere near you.

Power metallers Strident were next to stride on to the stage. Ramone was on hand to announce that the person to correctly point out and name the cover version in their set would win a Collector’s Edition of Diablo 3. Cue frantic head scratching by four journalists trying to figure out if the song was an Iron Maiden cover or Hammerfall. It was neither of course. Two songs later the true cover version made an appearance. Oh. It’s the theme from Diablo 2. Doh. Back to the bar you fools.

The crowd appeared to follow our their lead to hear what the “special” announcement from Blizzard was all about. Everyone was getting an upgrade to the Collector’s Edition? Really? No. Those with pre-orders could take their games at 11pm and head on home to be ready for the little hand and big hand on the clock to both be pointing at 12. The expectant gamers clearly didn’t need a second invite. In a surprisingly less than chaotic manner, an orderly queue was formed and happy punters were issued their goodie bag with the game and other special items for being good enough to turn out and support Kalahari.com.

And just like that they were all gone and a few stragglers had to be kindly asked to leave. But not before yours truly scored himself a fantastic Steel Series Diablo 3 Mousepad from a rather pleased looking Ramone. Good job sir. Great job in fact. Can we do it all again sometime?