While sitting in a lobby of a hotel I wasn't staying at and availing myself of its free internet to crank out E3 coverage, I noticed that an Xbox 360 lurked undeneath the TV that was showing CNN.

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No indication was clear as to what the hotel used it for, but surely they had to use it for more than a DVD player, right? Monthly SceneIt battles or epic Fight Night tournaments? I powered it up, hoping for clues. Thankfully, the thing hadn't red-ringed but there was no disc inside. I was really hoping for Left 4 Dead, but alas. In the very same lobby, a young teenage lad was hungrily watching YouTube video from purporting to be from the Left 4 Dead 2 beta. I shoulder-surfed long enough to see that it did indeed look like the real deal. Later, as I got up for a stretch break (stop laughing! they're important!), the same kid was playing what looked like Peggle. Who says hardcore and casual are mutually exclusive?

The run-in with the 360 reminded me of a night out about a month ago on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where I stumbled upon a reflective mirror advert for the DSi in the men's room of a crowded bar.  I snapped a few pics and looking back, it seems to me that Nintendo's admen might be making a joke about beer goggles.

Anyone else have unexpected video game run-ins recently?