Gamers lined out the door for an opportunity to walk away with an Xbox One. (Neon Tommy/Will Federman)

He wore the look of rejection only a fellow gamer could understand.

Guillermo Bocanegra marched into the GameStop on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Vermont Avenue around 2 p.m. with the hope of attaining one a “Day One” edition of the Microsoft Xbox One. The purchase would replace an Xbox 360 console Bocanegra was forced to sell for some much-needed cash a couple months back.

His dreams were momentarily dashed when a sales clerk informed Bocanegra that a very limited number of Xbox One consoles were allocated for midnight launch. Without a pre-order, it was unlikely Bocanegra would be able to purchase even a standard Xbox One if he went to work and returned at midnight.

With a launch queue forming outside the door, Bocanegra had to take quick and decisive action.

He asked to borrow my cell phone.

The 24-year-old cook quickly dialed his employer, a nearby Korean barbeque restaurant, and told his supervisor he wasn’t coming to work. For Bocanegra, it wasn’t as much of a choice, but rather a personal imperative. From the moment he saw the Xbox One, the jovial and bearded gamer was “hooked.” Bocanegra didn’t just want it – he needed it.

“It will be worth the wait,” Bocanegra said.

SEE ALSO: Thousands Line Up At Midnight For Sony's PS4

This time last week, gamers were anxiously queuing up in long lines for the chance to get their mitts on the PlayStation 4. Now it’s Microsoft’s turn. But the gaming Gods were not as kind to the Xbox faithful.

Cold and wet skies put a damper on launch celebrations across the country. Temperatures dipped, precipitation fell. Even the weather in Los Angeles was miserable; an unfamiliar sight that Microsoft must hope is not an omen of things to come.

Two spots ahead of Bocanegra sat Giovanni Moreno. The 23-year-old held out until 4 p.m. when the threat of rain and falling temperatures forced the retail veteran to plead with GameStop workers for shelter. They kindly obliged.

Inside the warm, narrow walls of GameStop, gamers found a retailer in short supply of the Xbox One. Speculation traveled the queue that Sony managed to produce more units for its product launch. Some expressed worry with Microsoft’s grand vision for a unified set top box. And there were hushed concerns about whether or not Microsoft had truly seen the error of its ways after a string of public relations failures.

Moreno was one of the gaming enthusiasts with strong opinions on the DRM policies Microsoft proposed prior to E3. He doubted whether or not Microsoft would be able to replicate its success from the prior console generation, and truly believes Microsoft has damaged its reputation within the video game community. 

“If Microsoft had not changed its policies, I wouldn’t even be here,” Moreno said. 

Still, most folks in line were pumped, ready to put down their hard-earned money for Microsoft’s first video game console since 2005. The firm’s venerable Xbox brand, which has sold over 105 million units worldwide, has emerged as a strong competitor in a market place once dominated by Japanese manufacturers.

SEE ALSO: Next Generation Console War Predictions: Sony's PlayStation 4

At $499.99, the Xbox One is significantly more expensive than the noticeably more powerful PlayStation 4. But Microsoft is including its next-generation Kinect sensor bar, which utilizes an array of microphones and cameras to push its user interface in directions that Sony cannot.

Whether or not gamers are willing to pay a premium for the technology is one of the unanswered questions that many prognosticators are pondering in regards to the upcoming console cycle.

The majority of people in line, including both Moreno and Bocanegra, felt the price tag is justified. Fantasies about controlling your console with just the sound of your voice fueled most arguments for the Kinect interface.

SEE ALSO: Xbox One: The Good And The Bad

The games press has also warmed up to the Xbox One, praising the device as an ambitious media hub  – even if the technology is not fully fleshed out yet. Unlike its black-and-blue counterpart, Microsoft’s launch lineup of video game software has also fared better on Metacritic.

But gamers do not buy next-gen consoles for the present, but for the future. Moreno is already looking towards to next year, when titles like Titanfall and Halo 5 emerge from incubation.

“Maybe a new Skyrim game too,” said Bocanegra with glee. 

And then it was midnight. When gamers saw the gargantuan Xbox One from across the counter, the awful weather and long lines became a distant memory. It is a moment that hardcore gamers live for – technological desire made whole. 

As proud, new Xbox One owners hauled off their prized possessions into the night, it went without saying that there would be no work or school tomorrow morning, no time to dry off or change clothes. All adult responsibilities would have to wait until daylight. 

The Xbox faithful have waited eight years for this feeling, what’s another few hours?

Reach editor Will Federman here. Follow him on Twitter.