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November 16th, 2006, 23:36 Posted By: wraggster
A survey by ABI Research has revealed that those interested in next-gen consoles are generally current-gen gamers. Of 1725 consumers polled, 18% said they were looking to buy a new game console, compared to 28% of active gamers. This boils down to 42% of PS2 owners, 55% of Xbox owners and 54% of GCN owners looking to get a new console.
"Not surprisingly, the interest in the new generation of consoles grows significantly among the already converted," says research director Michael Wolf. "While we think that the market of console owners will likely expand beyond its current bases, we believe that the market for the next 1 to 2 years will be driven by current console owners upgrading to the new generation."
While fewer PS2 owners indicated interest in acquiring a next-gen console, loyalty to Sony products was measuredly higher than the competition. 60% of PS2 owners that are looking for a new console are likely to get a PS3. This is greater than the 45% of Xbox owners looking to buy an Xbox 360 and 46% of GCN owners looking to buy a Wii.
"We believe that Sony's much larger installed base combined with higher loyalty among current generation owners could translate into significant gains for them if they can, in fact, convert these prospective owners," said Wolf. "Microsoft and Nintendo, while still seeing strong overall loyalty, do not enjoy the same intensity."
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November 16th, 2006, 23:17 Posted By: wraggster
A PlayStation 3 pre-order up for auction on eBay ended just 45 minutes ago as of the writing of this post, fetching over ten thousand dollars. If this guy doesn't get his pre-order, and we have a feeling that's going to be happening a lot tomorrow, can the winning bidder get out of it? Yes, according to the notes on the auction, although you still have to pay for shipping (wtf?). His wife is getting in on the bling action as well, "my wife is first in line at our local Walmart and she is also garunteed a PS3 so I will have 2 of them at midight."
We don't know anything about the winning bidder except he's apparently a Florida Gators fan. Let's hope he didn't type an accidental zero in there when bidding ... 10k for a PS3 is quite a stretch from the $600 asking price. We've emailed him for some answers, hopefully he hasn't had to hock his computer to pay for this baby.
The guy who is reselling 100 PS3s is probably crapping his pants right now. Just keep the receipts for the Ferrari and the yacht in Bermuda. Impulse buys can be a real bitch.
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November 16th, 2006, 23:11 Posted By: wraggster
In recent times, New York City has rid itself of the stigma of being a grumpy city. While in office, then-mayor Rudy Giuliani "cleaned up" much of the city, and tragic events, including the World Trade Center bombings, have helped the metropolis' citizens bond.
Now it appears as though one thing may rip them apart--the PlayStation 3.
In stark contrast to the jovial atmosphere of last night, emotions of those waiting in line today to purchase PlayStation 3s are reaching fever pitch. Gamers who were on the cusp of getting a PS3 last night have now been edged out by line-cutters looking to take advantage of the situation.
Outside the SonyStyle Store in Midtown Manhattan, several gamers voiced their disgust at the way the line was being managed, complaining of seeing their place in line move further back because of line jumpers.
At the Circuit City in Union Square, several gamers told GameSpot that people have been cutting the line since mid-week, with the most coming in the last hours.
"There's no management of the line here," said one hopeful PS3 owner. "People are just jumping the line, there were even fights last night. It's totally messed up."
Employees of Circuit City told GameSpot that the store will have 100 PS3s for sale, but will also raffle off an additional 100 consoles beginning at 10 p.m. with the support of a New York City radio station.
Local news stations are also covering the escalating tension, reporting that some gamers have moved about 100 feet backwards since they first got in line.
The weather doesn't look to help matters, either. An overcast morning turned into a blustery afternoon with winds picking up--the leading edge of an incoming thunderstorm. Rain and winds up to 35 miles per hour are expected straight through the console's midnight launch.
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November 16th, 2006, 23:10 Posted By: wraggster
With the PlayStation 3's North American debut just hours away, the natives are growing restless. San Francisco natives, that is, who are gathering outside the city's Metreon shopping complex, site of the flagship SonyStyle store. Whether they were perched on the sides of metal barricades or seated comfortably in collapsible lawn chairs, the hundreds-strong crowd had gathered for a single reason--to be one of the lucky 400,000 American gamers to get their hands on a PS3 on launch day.
It all began around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, when a plucky quintet of Sony enthusiasts put down stakes. Due to liability reasons, the crowd was not allowed on the sidewalk in front of the Metreon. Instead, they were ushered by security guards hired by Sony to a line on Minna Street, a small alleyway across from the gleaming temple to the gods of commerce. According to those on the scene, by late Wednesday night, the line had grown to around 500, at which point security guards cut it off, shooing away stragglers.
By early Thursday, however, the throng had swelled to more than 700 people, and San Francisco Police Department officers were dispatched to maintain order. Despite that, the façade of civilized behavior almost sloughed away around 7:30 a.m., when Sony employees ordered most of the crowd to relocate onto the sidewalk immediately in front of the SonyStyle store on Fourth Street. Immediately, many began to rush to the front, and, according to those waiting in line, "things got ugly" when a scuffle nearly broke out. However, the eager gamers were coerced back by promises from SonyStyle store officials that the first 750 people in line were guaranteed PS3 units--indicating that the retail outlet was flush with stock of the sought-after console.
By 8 a.m., the scene had grown more chaotic. The line was divided in half, with the first 500-odd people in line waiting on Fourth Street and several hundred more relegated to Minna Street. But while the Minna crowd was tightly controlled by a half-dozen security guards and the same number of SFPD officers, the Fourth Street line was relatively unattended. While baristas from a certain ubiquitous coffee-shop chain handed out free samples, dozens of newcomers armed with lawn chairs, laptops, and PSPs glommed onto the back of the Fourth Street line. By 8:30 a.m., the queue had snaked around the corner onto Howard Street, passing the pedestrian overpass to the Moscone Convention Center.
Despite the deteriorating sense of order, a Sony rep on hand said that everyone in line--which was pushing 1,000 by 8:45 a.m.--was still guaranteed a PS3. However, if the crowd's size continues to increase at the same rate it had this morning, that could swiftly change. However, as of press time, an SFPD rep could not comment on specific crowd-control plans, saying only that officers would be dispatched should the SonyStyle store--or any other retailer--call for backup.
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November 16th, 2006, 23:07 Posted By: wraggster
Those who camp out for system launches know ahead of time that they'll have to endure a number of hardships to walk away with a new game console on day one, but being shot probably isn't among them.
A drive-by BB gun shooting hit four people at a Best Buy store in Lexington, Kentucky, last night according to reports from the local CBS affiliate, WKYT. Three of the people hit were camped out in line to buy a PlayStation 3 when it goes on sale Friday morning, while the fourth was a WKYT reporter covering the line for a story.
Two of those hit reportedly packed up and left the line, saying "a PlayStation 3 simply isn't worth it." The third customer remained in line, telling WKYT "I'd do it again, even if I get shot again."
A representative with the Lexington Police Department told GameSpot the shooting happened about 8 p.m., with nobody requiring medical attention, and none of the people hit by the BBs filing a police report. While the police are keeping an eye on the line, he said there have been no more incidents at the Best Buy, and no reports of lines from any other retailers in the area.
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November 16th, 2006, 23:04 Posted By: wraggster
No doubt, there will be lines of hardcore gamers waiting outside retailers across the country late Thursday night, and all expectations are that every PS3 available will be sold before Christmas. That certainly would be good news for Sony, a company that could use a dose of holiday cheer.
Simply put, the PS3 is about more than just gaming for Sony: It's about selling high-definition DVDs and televisions. It's about making investments in cutting-edge technologies pay off. Most of all, it's about improving a once-admired brand that's been badly tarnished over the past year by the recall of hundreds of thousands of laptop batteries, the controversial installation of so-called rootkit software on music CDs, and a government investigation into the company's static random-access memory (SRAM) business.
"They've been kind of beaten down by all the different things going on," said Adrienne Downey, a senior analyst with Semico. "They've really been hoping that the PS3 would be a turning point for the company. If they can get a successful launch of the PS3, they can begin to rebuild mindshare among consumers who were beginning to think that the Sony brand is not what it used to be."
For more than a decade, Sony has dominated the game console business. Between its original PlayStation, which launched in 1994, and its PlayStation 2, which arrived in 2000, Sony has sold well more than 200 million consoles and overtaken the previous leader, Nintendo.
"The PS3 is hugely important for the company right now," said Richard Shim, a senior analyst with IDC. "They're reeling from a series of events [and the PlayStation] has really been the go-to product for them for the last few years."
Holding on to the game console market won't be a cakewalk. Sony has to contend with Microsoft--whose own next-generation console, the Xbox 360, has been on the market for a year and which has already sold more than 6 million units--as well as with Nintendo, which is launching the much-hyped and well-regarded Wii early Sunday morning.
The PS3 is seen in many circles as a technological marvel with stunning graphics, a motion-sensitive controller, a Blu-ray player, and impressive networking capabilities. But the console has also been beset by its own set of blunders--release delays, problems with its blue diode lasers, compatibility issues with older games, and expected supply shortages that could last until spring.
And some worry that its price--$599 for a top-end model--is too high to appeal to a wide audience, even as Sony has had to subsidize the machine's $800 manufacturing price tag. Like Microsoft, Sony is willing to lose money on the console with the hope of making it up on games sales.
There's little doubt that the PS3 will sell like gangbusters in the early going. But the question remains as to how it will sell in the long haul. Some believe it is well-positioned to ultimately win the console war with Microsoft and Nintendo due to intense brand loyalty from video game players and due to new technology.
But if it doesn't live up to expectations, the PS3 could put a real hurt on several other elements of Sony's overall strategy.
First, the company is counting on the PS3 to put Blu-ray players in millions of households and drive sales of Blu-ray movies and other content. Some even think that Blu-ray buyers may choose PS3s because its price is significantly lower than standalone Blu-ray players are expected to be.
"The PS3 is critically important to the future of Blu-ray," Semico's Downey said. "Sony's been betting on the PS3 to launch Blu-ray for some time now, so they're really hoping [it] will sell well and take off and get Blu-ray into all those households."
If the PS3 doesn't sell well, "would Blu-ray still win?" asked Ted Schadler, an analyst with Forrester Research who has predicted the format's ultimate victory over the competing HD DVD. "My bet is that it would. But it would be a slower victory. The PS3 is like an accelerant [for Blu-ray], like gasoline on the fire. It could delay the clear winner [of the Blu-ray/HD DVD war] by a year if this thing bombs in the market."
Similarly, Sony and partners IBM and Toshiba have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the creation of the Cell processor, the PS3's brain. Some industry watchers believe that the investment is riding on the console's success.
That said, Tony Massimini, chief of technology at the analyst firm Semico, said he sees the importance of the PS3 to the processor and the infrastructure but believes that the companies behind the Cell will push it regardless of PS3's fortunes.
"Initially, the PS3 is important. But in the long term, it's [just] one of several markets," said Massimini, referring to high-definition video equipment and other products that can use the Cell. "I don't think it would necessarily [be a problem] for the Cell [if the PS3 fails]. Too much has been put into it."
Sony also hopes the PS3 can play a big role in the digital living room.
Richard Doherty, president of the analyst firm Envisioneering, said the PS3, which ships with high-speed, gigabit capability, could be the device that enables consumers to bring in all manner of multimedia content to their homes for years to come, much of which Sony will surely try to sell directly or at least get some revenue from.
Sony acknowledges the importance of the PS3 to its future. "I think we've [the PlayStation group] contributed up to half of the bottom line profits to Sony," said Jack Tretton, vice president of sales and marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We're a key pillar in the Sony strategy. [But] with that comes a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure."
The console could have a big effect on sales of Sony high-definition TVs, Sony's movies on Blu-ray DVDs, and the company's music library, he said.
"In the past, we were in the gaming business, and the gaming business had very loose ties, if any, to other [Sony] divisions," Tretton said. "With PS3, we have very direct ties."
Ultimately, Sony has great hopes for the PS3. But the ragged lead-up to the product launch early Friday morning has reminded many of how much the electronics giant has riding on this release.
Sony's "legacy is that they're an engineering company, and that's what they hang their hat on," Shim said. "So if they're unable to put out a product that doesn't have bugs, then that hits them right in the heart of their competency."
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November 16th, 2006, 23:01 Posted By: wraggster
Sony Corp. is taking a big loss on each PlayStation 3 console it sells but end users are benefitting from "supercomputing performance" at the price of a cheap PC, according to research company iSuppli Corp., which dismantled the console to analyze the parts inside.
Console makers often sell their hardware at a loss with the hope of profiting from the games that run on them. But Sony's loss on each PlayStation 3 will be unusually deep, according to iSuppli's estimates released Thursday.
The combined materials and manufacturing costs for each device come to US$805.85 for the model with a 20G-byte hard drive, excluding the cost of the controller, cables and packaging, iSuppli said.
With a suggested retail price of $499, that would mean Sony is taking a loss of $306.85 on each console it sells. The differential for the 60G-byte model is less, with the cost exceeding the price tag by $241.35.
By comparison, the materials and manufacturing costs for the HDD version of Microsoft Corp.'s rival device, the Xbox 360 are $323.30, iSuppli estimated. That's less than the suggested retail price of $399.
"It's common for video-game console makers to lose money on hardware, and make up for the loss via video game-title sales. Still, the size of Sony's loss per unit is remarkable, even for the video-game console business," iSuppli said.
Most of the cost comes from the PlayStation 3 console's processing power. The multi-core Cell processor alone, which was co-designed by Sony, Toshiba Corp. and IBM Corp., and is the gaming device's main processing engine, accounts for about 10 percent of the cost of each machine, iSuppli said.
The research company also highlighted Sony's use of dual graphics chips from Nvidia Corp. and Toshiba, and its use of four 512M-bit DRAM chips from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Sony's motherboard probably costs the company $500 in total, compared to $204 for the Xbox 360, iSuppli said.
This is all good news for customers, who get all that computing power for a relative bargain. iSuppli called the PlayStation 3 an "engineering masterpiece," with a motherboard that looks more like that of an enterprise server or network switch than a games console.
The console provides "more processing power and capability than any consumer electronics device in history," iSuppli said.
The PlayStation3 made its debut in Japan Saturday and is being rolled out worldwide this week and next.
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November 16th, 2006, 23:00 Posted By: wraggster
Gamasutra is reporting on the possibility that there may only be 150,000 - 200,000 PS3s available tomorrow. Kotaku has heard that this may stem from removal of the 20 GB units from the shipment to the U.S., though this is just speculation at the moment. Several bloggers have noted that their local videogames store has notified them of lowered availability, so it doesn't seem that this is outside the realm of possibility. From the article:
"'Due to the limited initial installed base of the platforms, we believe the financial impact over the holiday period will be more significant for hardware manufacturers and video game retailers (such as GameStop) than for software publishers.' In addition to predicting a strong push for Xbox 360 products due to a shortage in PS3 supply, Sebastian also says the newly launched consoles may not have as significant an impact on holiday sales."
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November 16th, 2006, 22:59 Posted By: wraggster
Sony Corp. said on Wednesday that online software upgrades to its new video game console, the PlayStation 3, will fix glitches that make some older PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games not run properly on the PS3.
Kaz Hirai, president and chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, told Reuters that more than 8,000 PS2 games will play on the PS3, and that so-called "firmware" upgrades will address problems found with about 200 games since sales of the PS3 started last week in Japan.
"We are aiming for perfect compatibility. Our goal is 100 percent compatibility," he said in an interview. "We are trying to get there as quickly as possible."
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November 16th, 2006, 22:58 Posted By: wraggster
In a two-part Q&A, Playstation marketing chief Peter Dille discusses the PS3 ad campaign, Microsoft's blogger superiority, why Ludacris is his kind of celebrity and more."
From the article:
"Emotion is a big part of the category. You've seen the baby spot, which kicked off the TV effort. The whole thought behind that was, look at the wide variety of emotions the PlayStation 3 can elicit. The other theme we're setting up is that the power of the PlayStation 3 is so awesome that anything placed in close proximity is witness to this awesome power. So this baby doll is whipsawed through a gut-wrenching range of emotions, from laughing and crying to reverse crying. That's going to set up a series of spots where you'll see the power of the PlayStation 3 in this white room environment."
N'Gai also has a great piece up looking at why screenshots are no longer effective marketing for next-gen games.
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November 16th, 2006, 22:30 Posted By: wraggster
As final PlayStation 3 units continue to trickle into more and more hands, additional details about how the system works and what it can and can't do are hitting the web. The latest (rather major) tidbit is how the console treats the upscaling and downscaling of 720p titles on televisions that don't support that resolution -- specifically those that are only 1080i capable.
As it turns out, gamers who own older HD sets that feature only 480i, 480p, and 1080i resolution input capabilities will have to settle for the display quality being downsized as the game boots in its 480p mode rather than upscaling the image from its more desirable 720p mode to the TV's 1080i. We tested this development on older HDTV sets with games designed for 720p but not 1080i -- Resistance: Fall of Man, NHL 2K7, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, and Need for Speed Carbon. Sure enough, the system downshifted all four titles to 480p rather than moving up to 1080i. This issue came up with either a digital HD video connection (using an HDMI cord) and an analog HD video connection (using component cables.)
The PlayStation 3's competitor, Microsoft's Xbox 360, does upscale 720p games to 1080i if the HD set supports the latter resolution but not the in-between and commonly-employed 720p resolution.
IGN contacted Sony representatives for comment regarding this feature, but SCEA spokespeople have yet to return our phone calls as we went to press (we'll update this story when they do). It is not known yet if this is purely a software issue or a deeper technical problem and whether or not this lack of upscaling might be resolved on launch PS3 systems in future updates of the hardware via downloadable firmware patches.
For the laymen, 720p is a high-definition format that offers a complete 720-pixel line frame on the screen at 24 to 60 frames per second (progressive), while the 1080i signal is presented as two 540-pixel fields that when displayed back to back look like a complete image (interlaced). The difference being that a 720p picture offers quicker refresh rates while 1080i offers more detail with stationary imagery. The maximum resolution of the PlayStation 3 (and currently the maximum for available HDTV sets) is 1080p. It is thus capable of displaying all major standard-definition and high-definition video outputs wherever HD standards are employed (in PS3 games and Blu-Ray Movies, most commonly), but as has already been reported about PS1/PS2 games and DVD playback, it does not currently upscale any lower resolution images to higher image standards.
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November 16th, 2006, 22:28 Posted By: wraggster
Via Engadget
Ok, even though we didn't think Sony would ever pull together enough components to actually launch this thing (which probably explains the two week queue), the PlayStation 3 is finally upon us. You've witnessed the PS3 getting unboxed, getting some playtime, and getting ripped apart, but now you can finally hop off that fence you've been occupying and decide which console suits you best. Although you may lust after Sony's sleek and sexy new toy, chances are that you won't snag it on day one -- unless you don't mind getting shot at while you wait in line, of course. Nevertheless, the initial wave of first reviews are in, and those fortunate enough to have already given the highly coveted machine a few hours of their time have spoken. Generally, reviewers felt that ported titles didn't do much to take advantage of the PS3's extra horsepower, and a Business Week reviewer "walked away more impressed with what it could do than with what it currently does." Moreover, nearly everyone mentioned the obviously high pricetag, but somehow felt that the PS3 packed a big enough punch to justify it, and CNET even went so far as to state that you'd "feel you got your money's worth, from both a gaming and multimedia perspective." So whether these reviews send you shooting out of the office in hopes of landing a good spot in line, or solidify your feelings that the Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii would better suit you, be sure to read on before swiping any card anywhere.
CNET (8.8 out of 10; Excellent)
Business Week (4 out of 5)
DigitMag ("Very versatile")
ITWorld ("I want one, but perhaps not immediately")
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November 16th, 2006, 18:42 Posted By: wraggster
Via Gizmodo
ISuppli took apart the PS3, sourced all the components and found it to have some serious engineering mojo.
With the PlayStation 3, you are getting the performance of a supercomputer at the price of an entry-level PC
The premium model costs $840.35 to make (Which sells at a loss for $600.)
The Xbox 360 on the other hand, costs $323 to make, these days. So, what we're trying to get at here is that the PS3 is a good deal. A lot of bang for the buck. A Bargain.
A wonderful surprise, for us, and for Sony. Good job, guys!
But I suppose we could have figured it out for ourselves if we'd considered how much the PS3 costs per pound. Fat ass.
Did you know the WiFi module is only $15 bucks? Hit the jump to see the price per component for everything else.
The Breakdown Via the Comments
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November 16th, 2006, 18:39 Posted By: wraggster
Via Gamesradar
Stand-alone SixAxis pads purchased in Japan do not come packaged with the USB cable required for charging the controller's battery, GamesRadar has discovered. This leaves the single cable included in PS3's box as the only way to charge your pads, regardless of how many you buy.
As we revealed last week, our friends at PSM3 sent an intrepid reporter across to Tokyo to pick up one of the world's first PS3's. They also grabbed an extra controller - only to find that it was supplied without an accompanying charge cable when the pad's package was opened.
Sony UK states that it is unable to comment on whether this situation will be the same when PS3 launches in the UK. "We won't know about the UK until closer to our own launch," we were told.
Fortunately, GamesRadar can confirm that standard mini-USB to USB cables will function as a stand-in - although the wire provided with PS3 is longer and more suited to gaming. But it could work out cheaper to pay around £4 for a regular wire than cough up for the officially licensed cable that will no doubt appear if the same SixAxis situation occurs over here. Or are we just being cynical?
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November 16th, 2006, 18:34 Posted By: wraggster
Aye Chihuahua hombre! We've got a sombrero full of hot-like-tamales shots from the upcoming PSP combo-clocking action shooter, Chili Con Carnage - jiggle your jalapenos to the images tab above for a butchers at the whole spicy selection.
Following in the footsteps of the console and PC title, Total Overdose, Chili Con Carnage sees Ramiro 'Ram' Cruz come swaggering back through the saloon doors for more gringo-fuelled gun-play in the Mexican border city of Los Toros.
Rather than knocking out a handheld port of Total Overdose, developer Deadline assured us in a recent question and answer session that Chili Con Carnage would be a "reinvention" of the original, with reworked story, level elements and gameplay mechanics all squeezed in alongside three brand new modes.
Out early in 2007, if you're looking for frantic, fully portable shootouts, we suggest you keep an eye on Chili Con Carnage as it promises to be a tasty burrito blast of action.
Screens and News at Gamesradar
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November 16th, 2006, 18:30 Posted By: wraggster
It takes a unique brand of dedication to line up and wait for the privlege of lining up and waiting somewhere else.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, a line of about 65 people had formed across the street from Sony's flagship PlayStation and Sony Style stores in the Metreon at the corner of Fourth and Mission Streets. While there's no doubt the line is for the PlayStation 3, Sony corporate mandated that no "official" line was allowed at the Metreon before 8 a.m. Thursday, so this line formed on Minna St. as a place to wait until there's an official line to join.
Counting down the hours at the Metreon.The line was a calm affair, most people lounging in beach chairs or milling about in the balmy 60-degree weather. They were hunkering down for the long wait until the following morning, when what they hope will be an orderly transition to official status is expected to be facilitated by Sony staffers.
To manage the transition from rogue gathering to official PS3 queue, the fifth person in line, Gieson from the East Bay, had created a list. "As long as no one bum rushes, it'll be fine," Gieson said.
With tent, cards, and cooler, these UCSF grad students wait out the night in relative comfort.Sony staffers inside the PlayStation store made it clear that they could disperse the currently building line at any time, but privately added as long as those in line remained peaceful and orderly, breaking up the line was unlikely.
The first in line, Chris from San Francisco, said he and his friends decided to start the camp out on a whim. They came by the Metreon today at 5 a.m., and noticing there was no one waiting and no lines formed, they quickly went on a supply run--securing tents and food--returning around 9 a.m. to camp out in the pole position. Most of the crowd had made no more preparation than wearing heavy coats and lugging some additional clothing and food.
Milling around, with the PlayStation store in the distance.A group of five grad students from the University of California San Francisco passed the time playing cards and tossing a football. The group, all bio-physics researchers, planned to sleep in shifts and keep an eye peeled for foul play. However, once in line, plans have a way of changing. One of the group expressed concern for how they would pass the time until the 8 a.m. transition to a Sony-sanctioned line, saying, "I don't know if sleep's a realistic option."
Those in line signed a list to preserve their spot.The line members' vigil should come to an end Friday at 12:01 a.m., when Sony's PlayStation 3 game console officially goes on sale. And while Sony's big launch event is taking place at SonyStyle Plaza on Madison Ave. in Manhattan, there will be plenty of activities happening in San Francisco to report on.
Expect more coverage from the PlayStation Store in San Francisco as well as the New York City launch party tomorrow night.
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November 16th, 2006, 18:28 Posted By: wraggster
Though the PlayStation 3 does not officially go on sale until November 17, Sony isn't wasting time getting the console's online services ready. Those lucky enough to get a pre-launch PS3 can now register for an online account, check out the PlayStation store, the PS3 equivalent of Xbox Live Marketplace, with the console's browser, and download the system's first demos. Rudimentary options for friends lists and messages are also available.
Though registration is free, those looking to hook up their PS3s with Sony's online service will need a valid credit card. Once signed up, gamers can choose an avatar from several pages of Sony-centric art, including pictires from the Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, God of War, and SOCOM games.
The online store is currently populated by trailers for Lair, Genji: Days of the Blade, Warhawk, Resistance: Fall of Man, NBA 07, Calling All Cars!, Motorstorm, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, and Cash Guns Chaos. Several free demos are also available, including those for Blast Factor, Formula One Championship Edition, Motorstorm, Cash Guns Chaos, Resistance, and NBA 07. Sony is also offering two downloadable games--Cash Guns Chaos and Blast Factor, each priced at $7.99.
But it isn't all about games. There are also Blu-ray disc trailers for Black Hawk Down, House of Flying Daggers, Ultraviolet, and more.
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November 16th, 2006, 18:27 Posted By: wraggster
The most hardcore of hardcore gamers were out in abundance in New York City Wednesday night, all hoping for a chance to score a PlayStation 3.
Gamers lined up outside SonyStyle Plaza in midtown Manhattan knew their best chance of getting a PS3 was waiting in front of that store. While other retail outlets were stuck with only a handful of systems, the PS3 bash there promised hundreds of Sony's next-gen console for sale.
Herded without opposition by Sony security guards, hundreds of gamers lined the street and even began wrapping around the corner of the next block. Spirits were high as a pseudo-commune formed, each participant allied by an equal goal--get a PS3 on November 17.
A fragment of the line in New York City.
Throughout the huddled line, the hopeful were crammed close together and sat in folding chairs more suitable for the beach than the hard asphalt of Manhattan. Diversions included gaming on PSPs, idle chit-chat, the occasional Nintendo DS, and the classic book. While most were receptive to the slightest bit of media attention, some campers covered their faces, perhaps protecting their "being sick and can't work" alibis.
Though one would expect harsh weather in New York at this time of the year, the weather seemed forgiving for those in line, hovering in the 60s and merely overcast. The weather gods appear ready to test their determination Thursday night though, as thunderstorms have been forecast for the area.
The gamer with the claim to being first in line is New York native Angel Paredes, who arrived at the store Monday evening. Though his commitment to getting a system day one was met with some resistance from his family, the temptation was too much to deny.
Ain't no party like a PS3-waiting party...
"I've been waiting for this system for over a year," Paredes told GameSpot. His family, who now understand his plight, have supplied him with food and even held his space in line for a few hours while he went home, showered, and revisited the luxury of having a roof over his head.
Though the launch of the system is still a full day away, those in line exuded a feeling of being in the home stretch. Paredes and the other hopeful PS3 owners are doing this together and have built a common bond.
"I've made a bunch of new friends," said Paredes, smiling and gesturing to those in line behind him.
Though there is the temptation of hawking a system for profit for all those who are lucky enough to score a PS3 on Friday, most of those waiting in front of the Sony Store in New York seemed content to keep theirs. However, a few dissenters did seem to opt for the quick cash.
"I'm totally happy with my Xbox 360 right now. I've got Gears of War sitting at home," said a man in line. "I may get a PS3 later, but for now, I think I'm selling mine."
Hopefully for those in line, the wait will culminate in a brand new PS3 early on Friday morning. Sony plans on kicking off its launch festivities at 9 p.m. EST, with the first PS3 sold in North America being handed out to Paredes at midnight. Those waiting at the end of the line be warned--Sony has announced that only the first 400 in line will get into the party and have the chance to buy a console. As for the others? Well, there's always the next shipment.
Waiting was not an option at some other New York City stores.
In contrast to the SonyStyle Plaza, a few major retail locations in the popular shopping area of Times Square were near empty. Both Toys "R" Us and Virgin Megastore in the famed district were barren. One employee at Virgin confirmed to GameSpot that the store only expected about five units for the system's launch.
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November 16th, 2006, 18:26 Posted By: wraggster
Via GIBiz
With just a day to go before the PlayStation 3 launches in North America, GamesIndustry.biz took a tour of retail outlets to find out how things are shaping up on the ground.
The tour took in several retail outlets in Austin, Texas, including a Best Buy store where a clerk named Kris was putting together a PS3 display. Tickets will be given out at 7am tomorrow, an hour before the store opens.
Kris said there is more hype for the PS3 than Xbox 360 last year, noting that his store has 26 units - 20 of the US $599 60GB variety, and six US $499 20GB models. "I expect 50 Wiis," he added.
It was a different story at the Toys R Us store across the street. Gum, who’s been with the company since 2004, was a veteran of the Xbox 360 launch. He said they are sold out of pre-orders. "Last year, there was fighting," he recalled. "They’re tired of it. I’m tired of it."
Last year, police were called. This year, the line will begin 48 hours before launch, but the store "will call" the police again, Gum warned, and people "will be arrested" if necessary. Wearily, he offered one final piece of advice: "Just wait for it."
Jeremy, a Best Buy employee responsible for security, said, "Simon isn’t allowing people to line up." The Simon he mentioned isn’t a particularly strict colleague, but Simon Property Group - which manages the retail centre and has a special policy ready for the PS3.
"I don’t know why they’re doing this, since Simon allows lines for Thanksgiving and for the Xbox 360 launch," Jeremy added.
A representative from Simon Property Group, Diane, explained, "Across the country, we’ve had some very bad experiences." As a result, their properties will be closed until four in the morning on launch day. Off duty police officers and tow trucks will enforce the restriction.
"This is not our business, we’re not a campground. That's our policy... No one thinks about the liability until something happens."
Simon claims to be the number one shopping mall owner in the United States, with about 280 properties - primarily malls, community shopping centers, and outlet centres - in 38 states. In short, this is the company that acts as landlord to most major retailers.
"I can’t tell you; we have people lighting barbeque pits, people defecating in the parking lot, people that are throwing Frisbees… It’s not safe," Diane concluded.
"I know I wouldn’t want my young teenager or my college student out in that environment."
The company remains firm on the no camping rule: "We do have off-duty police officers to enforce it." The possibility of a mad dash once doors open has also been raised. "I don’t know what to say about it. But the police officers will make sure it’s orderly," Diane said.
Other stores appeared calmer. At Gamestop, a manager named Daniel explained that word of pre-orders leaked out over the Internet, and the store is obligated for all PS3 and Wii units.
He claimed that Sony is only providing 300,000 units at launch, despite promising 400,000. "I don’t know if I should trust them now," Daniel said.
The silver lining he offers is that people who pre-order the PS3 won’t have the cash to pay for them when the time comes - "It’s more likely than we’d like to admit." And after 48 hours, the pre-order will expire, making the unit available for the next buyer.
CompUSA has taken a novel approach. They did pre-orders, but anyone purchasing a 42 inch television got a free reservation. As one clerk remarked, "The six we’re getting will be sold out."
At Circuit City, a clerk named David said they’re getting six PS3 units, guaranteed. He noted that there are people camped outside, and they'll get the consoles first. "I say, just give it to ‘em. They’ve been there since last night."
The campers include a number of University of Texas students, who have been there since 7pm on November 14.
"We were driving back to Austin from Dallas," explained Tim, "And we just thought of a way to make some good money, because they’re selling for like US $2000 on eBay." So, the students decided to camp out, get a few PS3s, and sell them.
"We’ve talked to some of the managers. They’re just surprised that we’re here so early. Usually people come today, but they’re letting us camp out, so that’s pretty cool."
Will Tim be tempted to open the box, just for a look or a quick gaming session? "I need the money more than entertainment."
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