The music alone should make you cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCHp7P5nrsw
This was (I think) the first video I saw of CoH and it made me want to play the game. I was just casually searching Google for games related to super heroes and stumbled upon this video.
The day I knew the game would be available in the stores I took a day off from work and waited at the door of the computer store before opening.
As they opened I ran up to the counter (I was the only customer, but who cares at that point) and asked them if they had the game.
The clerk remembered ordering 1 copy of the game, because they were not sure if it would sell.
But they hadn't unpacked the cargo yet. So I told him I would wait until they did.
The good guy went out to the back, I heard some noises and talking.
About 10 minutes later (I think, not sure, seemed like ages), the guy comes back with the only copy of the game they had.
I bought it and ran home.
Installed the game...
...it asked for account details.
Opened the CoH website and clicked "register"...
..."credit card required!", I don't have a credit card!
Opened VISA website, ordered a credit card, had to wait a couple of days for it to arrive.
Registered my account, billed to credit card, logged in the game, spend the first 3 hours (I guess) messing with the creator and coming up with names.
But I was in, I was playing. This was my first MMO (never did WoW) and it was awesome!
To quote Sally from Watchmen "I was a hero g*ddmnt!"