What are your plans for making sure you get a PS3 friday?

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:01 pm

Engadget says in Lexington, KY, some guys drove by and shot pellets at some campers at a Best Buy.

Gamespot reported that people started lining up at the Metreon in SF yesterday so they had people line up in a nearby alley and then later tried to move several hundred people to another spot to line up, which caused a rush and some scuffles.

Supposedly over 1000 people in line there. Not even sure if they're doing a midnight launch.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:19 pm

I just got back from a lunch-break trip to the Best Buy near my work, and there is a refugee camp out there. I counted 14 tents, and many more people than that. Linesman number 19 had a sign advertising that his spot was for sale. ('#19 Guaranteed system!' it read)

We're on the very front edge of a massive storm system in NJ right now too...8+ hours of storms, 50mph wind gusts, and 1-2 inches of rain expected. Some of their tents were already collapsing. I'm almost tempted to drive by later tonight (I'll be in the area again) to see how they are coping.

None of them had the appearance of a sterotypical 'outdoorsman,' if you know what I mean.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:23 pm

That is awesome Web...I wonder how much that guy is selling his spot for. That would be the way to go. Instead of camping the whole time, just get a nice spot in line till around 20 or so people are behind you...then you know the people driving up will be willing to spend some money to get your spot.

Anyone else think that we're going to see at least 25-30% of the systems on ebay in the next few weeks. I just don't know or hear of anyone buying themselves a system to actually PLAY. Everyone is looking to flip.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:35 pm

On Craigslist (Chicago at least) there are tons of spots in line for sale. Some guy is even selling his preorder that is guaranteed a system for $500. The buyer still has to pay for the system minus the $50 reserve. Crazy.

My plan consisted of calling Cost Co and finding out they aren't getting any tomorrow. I would have gotten one and sold it to get one for myself when they're readily available and more games are out.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:54 pm

Well I am shocked people are making such a big deal of the lines. I mean there were lines days before the 360 launch as well, who gives a s***.

I just went by a target near my work to pick up a game, and there were 5 people in line and there are 8 systems for sale according to the guy inside. A guy at work really wants one, he was thinking of getting in line. But correct me if I am wrong, there is nothing to prevent person number 1 in line for having 7 more friends show up at just the right time to screw everyone else right?

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:00 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:That is awesome Web...I wonder how much that guy is selling his spot for. That would be the way to go. Instead of camping the whole time, just get a nice spot in line till around 20 or so people are behind you...then you know the people driving up will be willing to spend some money to get your spot.

Anyone else think that we're going to see at least 25-30% of the systems on ebay in the next few weeks. I just don't know or hear of anyone buying themselves a system to actually PLAY. Everyone is looking to flip.

That's exactly what I was saying in the other thread... they're is going to be way, WAY more PS3's on eBay than there ever was 360s for sale. Most of the people who were after 360's were gamers who actually *wanted* the system. The sales started happening only when people started seeing how scarce they were. With PS3 from the word GO, people are hiring homeless to stand in line, *selling* spots in lines and pre-order receipts, pimping their wives to stand in lines... there's going to be too many of these things on there. Numbnuts freezing their balls off in their shanty towns are going to come up short on their Wonka tickets.
By the way, I think you were right about the 10K being a fluke... not long after, a 60GB PS3 sold by a 100% feedback person went for a "mere" 3K. So no way that guy gets paid 10k... unless Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were jacking with each other on eBay this afternoon.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:01 pm

Danimal wrote:Well I am shocked people are making such a big deal of the lines. I mean there were lines days before the 360 launch as well, who gives a s***.

I just went by a target near my work to pick up a game, and there were 5 people in line and there are 8 systems for sale according to the guy inside. A guy at work really wants one, he was thinking of getting in line. But correct me if I am wrong, there is nothing to prevent person number 1 in line for having 7 more friends show up at just the right time to screw everyone else right?

Nothing but, as we say down here, a can of kick ass....

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:02 pm

Danimal wrote:I just went by a target near my work to pick up a game, and there were 5 people in line and there are 8 systems for sale according to the guy inside. A guy at work really wants one, he was thinking of getting in line. But correct me if I am wrong, there is nothing to prevent person number 1 in line for having 7 more friends show up at just the right time to screw everyone else right?

Oh there is something to prevent that from happening. It's called a riot.

And yeah Kaz...they are all ending around 3k now. Un-friggin-real still...but significantly less than 10k. If I knew they were going for that much, I would have taken two days off work. Hell, I can't make two grand working for those days, so it would have been well worth my time.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:03 pm

Kazuya wrote:
Danimal wrote:Well I am shocked people are making such a big deal of the lines. I mean there were lines days before the 360 launch as well, who gives a s***.

I just went by a target near my work to pick up a game, and there were 5 people in line and there are 8 systems for sale according to the guy inside. A guy at work really wants one, he was thinking of getting in line. But correct me if I am wrong, there is nothing to prevent person number 1 in line for having 7 more friends show up at just the right time to screw everyone else right?
Nothing but, as we say down here, a can of kick ass....

LOL, well if you saw this guy Kaz he aint kicking no ones ass. He weight like 105 soaking wet.

Guy also told me they were getting 35 Wi's on Sunday, that is a very big difference. Now this is an out of the way Target. I'm starting to think I will be able to wander into a Target on sunday and get a Wi if I wanted to.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:14 pm

Danimal wrote:Well I am shocked people are making such a big deal of the lines. I mean there were lines days before the 360 launch as well, who gives a s***.

A chunk of this thread is devoted to analyzing the hype and excitement around this launch, and the lines are certainly a part of that.

There were not tent cities for the 360 launch like this, at least not in my area.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:17 pm

webdanzer wrote:
Danimal wrote:Well I am shocked people are making such a big deal of the lines. I mean there were lines days before the 360 launch as well, who gives a s***.
A chunk of this thread is devoted to analyzing the hype and excitement around this launch, and the lines are certainly a part of that.

There were not tent cities for the 360 launch like this, at least not in my area.

That's because everyone learned their camping out lesson last year.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:13 pm

I was picking up GOW an hour ago at an EBGames and a father walked in with his 10 year old son looking for a PS3.

I asked him if he ahd a 360 and he said no. I then asked why and he said his son only wants a PS3 and he would pay whatever amount for it. He was a dick about so I didn't ask about the Wii or what game a ten year old would want on the PS3.

The EBgame clerks and I laughed about it after he left.

Some of these parents are freaking nuts and morons to boot!

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:27 pm

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=21062

The idea that the demand for PS3s is being heavily driven up by speculative buying seems pretty hard to contradict. The ratio of hardware to software purchases is less than 1:1. That's a lot of consoles that people don't seem to want to buy actual games for.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:29 pm

I just swung by my local Best Buy. A few guys in the store playing NBA '07 for the PS3 were commenting that the particular BB we were in was getting 130 PS3's. There's no way I said. He said it was true. He also said that there were 110 people waiting in line outside. It seemed to be at least that many.

I'm thinking there's going to be a good 75 or so people walking away disappointed.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:39 pm

pigpen81 wrote:I was picking up GOW an hour ago at an EBGames and a father walked in with his 10 year old son looking for a PS3.

I asked him if he ahd a 360 and he said no. I then asked why and he said his son only wants a PS3 and he would pay whatever amount for it. He was a dick about so I didn't ask about the Wii or what game a ten year old would want on the PS3.

The EBgame clerks and I laughed about it after he left.

Some of these parents are freaking nuts and morons to boot!

He probably got a chuckle too, wondering why some weird guy was trying to quiz him down about a "360" (after asking his son what the hell a 360 was).

hellbent · Post by **hellbent** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:52 pm

Kazuya wrote:
pigpen81 wrote:I was picking up GOW an hour ago at an EBGames and a father walked in with his 10 year old son looking for a PS3.

I asked him if he ahd a 360 and he said no. I then asked why and he said his son only wants a PS3 and he would pay whatever amount for it. He was a dick about so I didn't ask about the Wii or what game a ten year old would want on the PS3.

The EBgame clerks and I laughed about it after he left.

Some of these parents are freaking nuts and morons to boot!
He probably got a chuckle too, wondering why some weird guy was trying to quiz him down about a "360" (after asking his son what the hell a 360 was).

On that note, I was already wondering how many of these numbnuts are going to pick up the new "Silver" PS2 redesign off the shelf at BestBuy, Circuit City, etc thinking they scored a new PS3?

Unfortunately, people ARE that stupid. I recall back when the PS1 redesign came out, there were customers who bought those by mistake, thinking they were the new PS2. So it stands to reason we might see some of the same this time around.

I'm blown away by the people that are trading in their 360's towards a PS3 as well. Nothing against the PS3 really, just the fact that they are probably giving those poor bastards a fraction of what they're going to resell them for (EB and GS are reselling the "refurbished" 360s for $270, a whopping $30 less than retail).

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:14 pm

seanmac31 wrote:http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=21062

The idea that the demand for PS3s is being heavily driven up by speculative buying seems pretty hard to contradict. The ratio of hardware to software purchases is less than 1:1. That's a lot of consoles that people don't seem to want to buy actual games for.

So those speculators planning to sell on eBay may be driving up demand at the stores.

But there would have to be demand by people planning to actually use the product in order for those speculators to materialize in the first place, no?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:23 pm

PS3 Waiting Line Fight Closes Wal-Mart

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/launch/...art-215309.php

Pathetic.

Take care,
PK

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:34 pm

Stores have ways to avoid lines, which raises the risk of violence.

They could simply draw numbers a week or two ahead, based on actual allocations instead of encouraging this spectacle of people camping out.

It may get some media coverage (and Sony Style in San Francisco is playing for that by allocating most of the units to that store while providing a fraction to its other two stores in the same metro area) but all it takes is some violence to undo whatever publicity they get.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:43 pm

pk500 wrote:PS3 Waiting Line Fight Closes Wal-Mart

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/launch/...art-215309.php

Pathetic.

Take care,
PK

I remember the PS1 launch...I walked int to the Best Buy an hour after it opened...walked to the vidoeo game section picked one up and bought it.

I didnt even know the Atari 2600, NES or Sega Genesis had launch dates...

Times...they have changed.

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:58 pm

XXXIV wrote:
pk500 wrote:PS3 Waiting Line Fight Closes Wal-Mart

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/launch/...art-215309.php

Pathetic.

Take care,
PK
I remember the PS1 launch...I walked int to the Best Buy an hour after it opened...walked to the vidoeo game section picked one up and bought it.

I didnt even know the Atari 2600, NES or Sega Genesis had launch dates...

Times...they have changed.

Exactly. These damn companies rush the launch just to get it done in a certain window. If they'd just take the time to do it right there wouldn't be any issues with this stuff.

The units would sell regardless. Sony could easily sell through a million units by Christmas if they had them available. They don't need to drum up hype etc. Just take care of business and get enough out there to meet demand. Or to at least put a decent sized dent into it.

This really is rediculous. I can't stand Jim Rome one bit. However, today I just had to listen as he was doing an entire segment on the PS3 launch, line waiting and the ways people were going about getting a system. You know, paying 50 homeless people 100 bones a day + food to wait in line for them and whatnot. CRAZY

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:45 pm

Can you say armed robbery?

http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=21616

I don't think these were Sony fanboys though because they managed to steal four 360's as well as the four PS3's.

To quote Jackie Gleason (Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Texas) in Smokey and the Bandit:

What the hell is the woyld comin to....

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:00 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:And yeah Kaz...they are all ending around 3k now. Un-friggin-real still...but significantly less than 10k.

No way are these things actually pulling $10k on eBay. I even doubt the $3k winning bids.

Same thing happened with the 360, the media fanned the flames by quoting some of the winning bids on eBay. Problem is, as we all know, a winning bid doesn't mean a completed sale. I seriously doubt that the people who got $3000 bids for their PS3 will actually get $3000 PayPal'd to them.

2 weeks after the 360 launch, "real" auctions on eBay were closing (with the transaction actually being completed by the bidder) for $50-100 over retail.

I went to Circuit City around 6pm last night to purchase a new cordless phone system, and saw a few losers in tents out front, sitting in the cold windy rain. I just shook my head and chuckled. You think 25-30% of these launch day sales will be on eBay? Hell, I'm thinking more than half. Problem is, there will be alot of frustrated sellers when they see the market flooded this weekend. And then they'll be even more pissed when their auction closes and the jackoff that won the auction never pays.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:10 am

Unbelievable:

>>>>>

Man Hurt Trying to Get Play Station 3 in West Bend

http://www.620wtmj.com/_content/news/story_5427.asp

West Bend police say a 19-year-old man had to go to the hospital after hurting himself while trying to get in line for a Playstation 3 at a Wal-Mart on Paradise Dr.

According to a statement from police, about 50 people were lined up outside the Wal-Mart. At 7:00 this morning an Assistant Manager announced to the customers that the store would only be getting ten of the new game consoles.

The manager set up ten chairs outside the store and then moved the crowd to a different location. The manager told people the first 10 people to get to the chairs would be the only ones to get a playstation at the store.

The manager gave a signal to the crowd and had everyone run to the chairs. Police say the 19-year-old ran into a pole while trying to get to the chairs, hurting his head.

Managers at the store in West Bend are not commenting. Wal-Mart's corporate offices have issued a statement that says for the past two weeks the company has made customers aware that it would only be getting a limited number of Playstation 3 consoles and that a line would form at 7 in the morning. The company claims that when the appointed time came, some customers became unruly and one was hurt. The statement makes no mention of a manager having people race to the chairs.

<<<<<

This is lunacy.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:11 am

Drive-By Shooting of PS3 Line

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6161886.ht ... ws;title;3

Nice.

Take care,
PK