Confessions of an OG Gamer Mom: The Midnight GameStop Era

If you were ever standing outside GameStop at midnight, hoodie up, Dunkin’ in hand, fingers frozen, and pretending this was totally normal behavior, then welcome to the club. This is Confessions of an OG Gamer Mom: The Midnight GameStop Era, and honestly, these kids will never understand. I still remember those nights like they were yesterday, a line of tired moms wrapped in hoodies and chaos, laughing through the cold while we waited for the doors to open. Most of them were there “for their kids.”

You know, football practice moms, cheer practice moms, just doing their annual Santa duty. Meanwhile, I was there for my kid… but also for me.

Let’s be real, I wanted that new Call of Duty just as bad. Santa was definitely scoring multiple copies that year, and maybe one mysteriously ended up in my own stocking.

Oops.

We stood there sipping lukewarm Dunkin’, trying to keep the feeling in our fingers, making deals with ourselves that we’d “never do this again,” right before showing up the next release night.

Same hoodie.

Same coffee.

Same chaos.

Same moms.

Now everything’s a pre-purchase and a download. No lines, no frostbite, no “I don’t even care, I’m getting two!” moment. It’s convenient, sure, but it doesn’t hit the same. It doesn’t have that earned it in the cold energy that made you feel like a legend before even loading into the game. I kinda miss those days… but also don’t. I like warmth. I like instant installs. But part of me still smiles every time I pass a GameStop, because somewhere in that parking lot, past me is still standing there, coffee in one hand, proud to be an OG gamer mom with zero shame, knowing I was getting the new game and using my kid’s Santa favorite gift as the perfect excuse.