The GameBoy Advance Incident

The start of it all

My name is Mike. This is the first time I'll be explaining this event, and will be the last. I've never thought until now to publicize this. I ask of you to respect my privacy during this time. 

I come from a rather privileged family. My father is the CEO of a company called Game&Go, it's a company that distributes anything technology, and video games related. Needless to say, he's very well in the higher class, so am I, as during the time in which My mother was having me, he made a bank account specifically for me for when I hit 18, and added money to it every month before I was born. At that point my account had $150,000 to it's name. When I went to school, majority of students, even including a select few teachers, would give me the stink eye. Some students in the middle of lessons, would go out of their way to shout insults such as "privileged!", "cracker!", and "pig!". I wasn't really hurt by all of this, but It made me think of what it was like to not be so lucky. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for what I was born with and the environment and family I was raised in, but with me being in a school with kids that live in poverty, I can't help but feel ashamed of myself. My father though tells me to disregard them as they are "broken and delinquent humans". The only kid in my school who actually cared for me was a classmate, named John. We have an amazing relationship together, and always stood by me whenever I was name dropped at school. We even see each other as more than just friends

Now, all of this does relate to the event at hand, I figured I needed to give some background and origins before explaining what you are waiting for. 

June 6th, 2001: 2 days before launch day

As I came back from school, my father was sitting in the couch, alongside my mother. Usually, this would mean that they have something they wanna explain to me that's rather serious. I sat on the couch ahead of them, and was ready to hear whatever they had to say. My mother spoke first.

M: "Mike, as you know your father works exceptionally hard every day, especially for you."

D: "I bring pleasurable news. Today, my team and I had a conference meeting with a businessman named Hiroshi Yamauchi. He is the CEO of Nintendo of Japan!"

I didn't really care. I'm not really a gamer or someone who is interested in business and investing. I am mainly interested in music and producing beats or instrumentals for small artists/bands, so I tried my best to drown out the noise I was hearing, and created an illusion in my mind that music was being played. It partially worked. 

D: "...We'll be making games for Nintendo's new upcoming gaming console!"

M: "That's right, Mike! Your father will be making video games for the GameBoy Advanced! We'll be sure to bring you every game Game&Go makes the moment they're completed, including the system itself, so that you get the very best before it comes out!"

I was a bit too immersed into my own little space and didn't respond to their enthusiasm, which kind of angered both of my parents.

M: "Mike!"

I quickly raised my head in attention.

Me: "Yeah?"

M: "Were you even listening to what we were saying?"

Me: "Obviously, you were talking about the thing with Game&Go and such."

D: "You know better than to disregard conversations with your parents, it's very disrespectful and shows that you don't care for me or your mother."

Me: "Of course I care for you both, you're all my parents, but I'm not really interested in Game&Go." 

My parents just stood up and left, probably to conversate about me and my 'behavior'. 

I put on my shoes went out for a walk around the town I lived in. I saw posters of the GameBoy Advanced being advertised. I quickly remembered that they did mention Nintendo and Game&Go's new association with them. About 1 hour of walking later, I decided to go back home and sleep.

June 7th, The day before launch day. 

The GameBoy Advance has been the talk of the school, everyone has been talking about getting one, but for whatever reason some kid pointed out that "That rich kid is probably gonna ruin it for all of us by buying every GameBoy for himself!" Then everyone booed me and threw paper at me. I have pretty thick skin, so I wasn't phased by the negativity the school had on me. During lunch,  I met up with John and talked about our lives. 

J: "Man, I really want that GameBoy tomorrow but my family won't let me have one!"

Me: "Well why is that?"

J: "My grades have been kind of waning for a while. The subjects have been way more complicated than I can handle."

Me: "Damn, I'm sorry bro."

J: "You have no reason to apologize. It's my fault, I'm the stupid one, heh."

Me: "You're not stupid, you're just overwhelmed. Don't worry about it, you'll get the hang of it." 

I really felt bad for John. He was born with ADHD. He has a hard time learning anything at school without being confused or overwhelmed. 

"I have an idea, John. How about after school, you come over to my house and we'll study together."

"But your Dad, doesn't he not allow any poor people into his house?"

"He's busy at his company working with Nintendo. He'll be staying overtime. My mother though doesn't mind you being at my house though. It'll be fine!"

"Alright. Thank you."

After school, we both went to my house and studied for a English test on a book called 'Odyssey'. 

A few hours went by, and we both decided to watch Nickelodeon. At that point, I completely forgot about my dad and paid more attention to my best friend. I should've stayed aware about my dad, because he came home extremely early, not even at midnight. 

D: "Mike, I'm home! I'm coming into your room. I have a special surprise for you!"

Me: "W-WHAT? FUCK! Um, o-okay dad!"

J: "I thought he was supposed to come at midnight!"

Me: "I thought so too. You have to leave, now! Jump out of my window! We're both lucky that my room is on the 1st floor!"

J: "Alright, see you tomorrow!"

Me: "Bye, now go!"

As John ran for his life back to his house, Dad came into the room. 

D: "Good evening, Mike. How was school for you today?"

Me: "Pretty educational."

D: "Good. I have something special for you. As you're well aware, the GameBoy Advance is coming out tonight. Well, with a lot of coordination from some employees, I brought you...this!"

My dad revealed to me a boxed, and sealed purple GameBoy Advance. He managed to receive one early for a surprise gift.

Me: A GameBoy?

D: A sealed one at that! These are going up for thousands on the internet! 

Me: Who even goes on the internet? 

D: Well anyways, I figured since you are doing very exquisite on your education, I figured this would seem a fitting reward for your exceptional efforts. Enjoy.

Me: Thanks...

My dad went downstairs to tell my mom to cook "the good stuff" for me, aka chicken and rice. 

I didn't even want this GameBoy, I wanted a Windows ME PC so I could make music, so I figured by tomorrow I would give this to John. 

This was when it all started.