Wii Warm Up: Launch parties

In Japan, game launch parties are associated with personal appearances from games' creators, free stuff, and huge lines. In the U.S., however, they're all business, generally just an opportunity to get a game a little early. The Nintendo World Store is an obvious exception to this rule, with crazy, publicized launch events taking place for every big Nintendo game.

Whether at the NWS or at your local Sam's, do you go in for these events? If so, do you go just to pick up your game, or is there a special appeal to hanging out at a store? We've never participated in the whole midnight-launch thing or really any other launch event, but that's only because they're, like, outside of our house.