The latest game of the greatest series ever, Metal Gear Solid 4 (MGS4), was released last Tuesday at midnight. Konami, the company that designed the game, set up midnight launch parties in New York and in Los Angeles, which is where I recently relocated. The senior producer, assistant producer, and three voice actors including David Hayter were there signing autographs.

As a huge MGS4 fan, I decided to wait in line for 12 hours to ensure that I got a limited edition bundle of the game along with a Playstation 3 (PS3), and get them signed by the 5 people who were there. I ended up being 12th in a line that consisted of well over 100 by midnight. As a result, not only did I get the bundle I wanted along with leaving with an autographed PS3 and poster, but I also appeared in photos on several gaming web sites.

This wasn’t the first time I waited in line a long time for something or picked a game up at midnight. I waited in line for Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto 4, Xbox 360, and my iPhone. I went to the Playstation 3 launch party in New York but didn’t buy one–I just wanted to be in the mix.

There is nothing like waiting in line for something you love. You’re surrounded by other people who love the product just as much as you and you’ll be that much more cooler than people who wait until the price goes down or until it becomes easier to find.

While waiting for MGS4, I met some really interesting people who did stuff like run across the street in a cardboard box and dress up with a patch over their eye–things that only people who are passionate about the game would do.

I hope that everyone find something that they are as passionate about as I am about video games and design, and never let the passion die.