The PlayStation 3 Launches In the U.S. 578
Sony's next-gen console has officially launched in the states, complete with an NYC launch party, and a giant line in San Francisco. While many gamers went home happy, the night was not without incident. There was also some ugliness, with individuals being hired to stand in line, as was done in Japan earlier this week. Overall, though, the news is positive for the hundreds of gamers who waited through the night for their new console. "As midnight approached, the first person in line, New York native Angel Paredes, was escorted into the SonyStyle Store where he was handed the first North American PS3 by Hirai and Stringer. The console's box also included a personal autographed message from Hirai. Paredes, his voice hoarse from interviews and arms tired from repeatedly hoisting the console, was a good sport, standing still for the multitude of photographers and offering a few words for anyone who asked. The first three gamers in line were comped their PS3s. Once the media buzz died down, the rest of the attendees were ushered in to get what they had been waiting for all week. Though the consoles' next destinations were unknown — many are expected to be posted on eBay for a quick profit — the next destinations of the new PS3 owners was clear — go home and get some rest. " Any readers spend the night in lines, and want to share about it? Did you eBay the thing, or are you just taking a break from Resistance? Let us know how things went, and what the system is like.
I won't expect reviews for a good while (Score:3, Funny)
Seriously, those who have the console now will probably be away for a good week, because who needs friends when you have a PS3?
Re:I won't expect reviews for a good while (Score:5, Funny)
Mod Parent Up! (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:I won't expect reviews for a good while (Score:5, Funny)
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Mobile Suit Gundam - 30%
NBA 07 - 66%
Untold Legends : Dark Kingdom - 65%
Genji - 57%
For comparison, the 360 launch exclus got much better score, overall (PDZ - 80%, Condemned 83%, PGR3 88%, Kameo 81%)
(percentage are from www.gamerankings.com)
eBay (Score:5, Informative)
Re:eBay (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:eBay (Score:5, Informative)
Neat strategy -- but your ebay account won't do too well.
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then droped to 90 mill, and is dropping further
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Inside pics and teardown video [eetimes.com]
Teardown cost analysis [eetimes.com]
Re:eBay (Score:4, Insightful)
Once Sony gets the production issues worked out, the supply/demand won't be in their favor anymore - supply will go up and demand will go down as the fanboys get their console. Once it gets to the point that anyone who wants a PS3 can get one at retail, then we'll find out if the $600 is above what the market will bear.
And we won't even know that for several years. Console price drops are just a form of market segmentation. Sony will sell every PS3 it can to the people who are willing to shell out $600 for it, then drop the price and sell it to everyone willing to pay at that level, then do it again, and again, and again, etc.
There's other factors involved besides price, like the size and quality of the game library at a given point in time, and the age of the console... but what you might find is that there's a big spike in sales when the console finally hits that "sweet spot", which my guess is around $300, the same price range that most every successful console launches at.
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The first three gamers in line were comped their PS3s.
now, THAT would have made for a decent profit for a week's worth of waiting in line... imagine if the first 3 people lived together and sold off 2 of them. goddamn. think of what they'd fetch for the autographed system.
Re:eBay (Score:5, Funny)
Must...stab...eyes out...
--Rob
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Wake me up when PS3 Mark 3 comes out. It will have most of the bugs fixed and the price will be reasonable enough to buy it,
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Is that guy serious? These people stand in line for days after waiting for MONTHS for the PS3 to be released... and they finally get one... and this guy thinks that now they're going to go home and SLEEP???
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Sure, there are a few idiots out there, but I expect that now the market is flooded with PS3s that the price is going to take a dump. PS3s might be in short supply but I expect that if you preordered one now (now that launch is over) that you'd probably have it before Christmas. For retail price.
Re:eBay (Score:5, Interesting)
Think about that.
This is consumer America (Score:5, Insightful)
Funny thing is, I used to be in pretty much that same frame of mind until I got married. I just never thought more than a couple of months ahead... probably mostly because I got in the habit of living paycheck-to-paycheck when I was in the Army (talk about low pay!) and while I was a college student, I was just living month-to-month on my GI Bill money. My wife (who is brilliant and a 4.0 math major) started pointing out all the things that we were doing that involved long-term tradeoffs and I was totally amazed at the amount of money we were spending on "unnecessaries." Working together, we were able to get ahead of the curve and eventually, we bought both our cars for cash and our house with a nice down payment. We haven't paid interest on a credit card in about five years, and the last time I was out of work, we had enough cash to tide us over. We still spend money on "fun" stuff, but we're always careful to think about the tradeoffs so that we're making informed decisions.
The moral of my story: if you're not a financial genius, marry someone who is
Re:This is consumer America (Score:5, Funny)
Certainly sounds better than my plan, of marrying a lusciously sexy girl with big tits...
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Making large purchases for cash is not correct. You can invest that cash for at least 8% while most dealerships offer financing at less than 5%. Plus, over the term of the loan you'll be paying down the principal which lowers the overall interest. You lost a fair chunk of change paying with cash instead of investing.
Thinking long term doesn't mean avoiding debt. Often taking out a loan is the best way to maximize long term income. I don't mean to embarras you; just tryi
And PS3 Yahoo Email addresses.... (Score:3, Informative)
Though most have high bidders with 0 feedback, and are probably being shilled to look like a real PS3 by price...
tm
Wow (Score:5, Interesting)
This is possibly the dumbest, saddest thing I've ever seen.
Re:Wow (Score:5, Funny)
You're new here, aren't you?
Chaos (Score:3, Interesting)
In practically every interview I have seen the reporter is talking to someone who intends to sell the PS3 for massive profit; in one case a man was talking about how he was going to make $2000 in one days work. I could be wrong but it seems like the PS3 launch has brought out everyone who is desperate to make a little money regardless of the moral cost.
Moral cost? (Score:5, Insightful)
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Last I checked, supply and demand didn't entail fist fights, riots, and robbery.
For all intents and purposes, these people are acting like getting the PS3 is a matter of life and death...
Which it is not.
What moral cost? (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm actually reasonably disturbed by the Chaos that has been created by greed ...
How is reselling a PS3 greed? To label this greed you need to know what financial situation these people are in.
Are they standing in line to afford a luxury item or is this a rare opportunity to make 2 months rent in a day?
Ticket/Event/Product Scalping [wikipedia.org] ( reselling ) is not always illegal and many legitimate business do it. Tickmaster at least at one point aunctioned tickets to popular events.
Finally, who is being hurt by the PS3 resellers? The gamers who have to wait an extra week to get their hands on a PS3?
Re:What moral cost? (Score:5, Insightful)
How is reselling a PS3 greed? To label this greed you need to know what financial situation these people are in.
Are they standing in line to afford a luxury item or is this a rare opportunity to make 2 months rent in a day?
Ticket/Event/Product Scalping ( reselling ) is not always illegal and many legitimate business do it. Tickmaster at least at one point aunctioned tickets to popular events.
Finally, who is being hurt by the PS3 resellers? The gamers who have to wait an extra week to get their hands on a PS3?
I (personally) see nothing wrong with the act of scalping a product in order to make a decent profit; I do however see a problem with trampling people to get a product in order to sell it online for a decent profit. Regardless of whether your use of your windfall is a noble cause or not, when you callously disregard the wellbeing of your fellow person in order to make the money it becomes an immoral act.
Re:Chaos (Score:5, Insightful)
I was discussing this last night with a former manager of a Gamestop. We came to the conclusion that only people that were buying PS3s now were going to sell it on Ebay.
But the amount of people willing to pay more than $1,000 is very small. So a handful of people will make money, but since Ebay is being flooded with PS3s there is a high chance that many of these Ebayers are going to be sorely disappointed.
Secondly... Most of those $9,000 bids are just fake bids of people who have no intention of actually buying it.
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It is dumb and sad but even sadder is that every console needs guinea pigs to queue up for the new console in order to generate the hype needed to claim a successful launch.
Personally I'd love a PS3 but I don't see what the attraction is of owning one when there are only a dozen or so games, you're queueing all night to get one and there is a real possibility that it might flawed / broken and you have no way to
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I hear they might be coming out with some new movies in the future. Just a rumor, though.
Will it ever be lanuched in India? (Score:2, Interesting)
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Re:Will it ever be lanuched in India? (Score:5, Informative)
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Well if people are bidding $3000 on it then clearly it is worth it to them. Suckers they may be but you can't blame Sony if people are stupid enough to pay that much.
Having said that, it wouldn't surprise me if the alleged shortages of PS3s are somewhat manipulated to amp up the hysteria for launch. All those recent news stories about boxes being cut from 400,000 to 250,000. It wouldn't surprise me if Sony held back s
Paging Angel Paredes (Score:2)
On the other hand, he's probably too busy playing with his new toy.
Near riot at our Best Buy (Score:5, Interesting)
It Is Just A Fucking Game, Damn It! I wish everyone would grow the fuck up.
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Damn you Sony for introducing gaming to the beer-drinking, fist-throwing, truck-driving masses!
PS3 Related Crime (Score:5, Informative)
It's clear that some people are just so into the giving spirit that they will do anything for the perfect gift.
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Re:PS3 Related Crime (Score:4, Informative)
Well, I didn't pre-order one... (Score:5, Insightful)
More numbers (Score:2)
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Ugliness (Score:5, Insightful)
Why is that ugly? Seems like capitalism at its finest. If someone is willing to pay for a service and someone is willing to perform that service, whats ugly about that?
Lazy maybe, but hardly ugly
I don't really follow games, what are the most anticipated titles besides the generic football games?
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Fair enough. I still stand by my claim for this instance
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Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
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The people who are hiring are purchasing a luxury service, it's like buying a preorder. The people that stand in line make a little money for standing somewhere. The cost to get the system is only increased for the person buying the system.
In reselling the system, the same thing is essentially happening, except someone on his own commission profits by taking the opportunity to purchase the system away from s
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Actually stores with scarce products and looong lines in front of them is communism at it's finest.
Well, only that it was bread instaed of Playstations people where linnig up to....
Hoping for the wii Launch... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hoping for the wii Launch... (Score:5, Funny)
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Before anyone asks... (Score:2, Informative)
Yes, according to Sony you can install any PowerPC-capable Linux build. Yellow Dog Linux [engadget.com], however, is the most prominently supported distro announced to date.
Shootings, shortages, and selling (Score:4, Informative)
Otherwise, i still think the PS3 is a great buy if you're into the whole high def DVD thing: by the time you buy a 360 and the HD-DVD add on you're better off buying a PS3 if you want high def.
Personally, I'm waiting for 2 reasons:
1) First batch hardware from Sony is almost always shoddy.
2) Metal Gear Solid.
When the system actually has over 1 million units produced and the bugs are worked out, then the real battle starts. Not having as many exclusives (Assassins Creed, Grand Theft Auto) might bring the PS3 to a real head on fight with X360.
Of course I couldn't live without the PS3 and call myself a gamer, so I will own one exentually. It's just a matter of getting quality releases.
I've enjoyed this LOLer coaster of a ride: Hirai's and Kutaragi's comments, shortages, BD v. Hd disc battles, lack of rumble. *sniff* I'm so sad to see it go.
Alwell, it's on to the PS4, Xbox 720, and the Nintendo Ballz!
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It's one thing to enjoy games, but...no offense, this "Of course I just had to get one" line sounds childish.
Lunatic, especially in Minnesota (Score:2, Insightful)
I even camped out with my friend to buy a PS2 so we could play Tekken. Another great game.
As far as I can tell the PS3's launch titles are pretty bad. There's a Madden with pretty graphics along with a handful of other anticlimactic sports titles... There's Call of Duty 3 (....)...
Gran Turismo HD will be out before New Year's, and Meta
SixAxis (Score:3, Insightful)
Come on (Score:3, Insightful)
I do that already anyway! Now I just won't have to use the thumb stick as well.
Im flying up to Canada (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Im flying up to Canada (Score:4, Informative)
Local stores here got maybe 10-15 each, and lineups were 50+ people long.
Ugliness? How about shooting? (Score:5, Interesting)
Associated Press (CNN [cnn.com], Yahoo [yahoo.com]), is reporting that masked, armed thugs robbed people waiting in line at a Putnam, Connecticut Wal-Mart for PS3, and shot one person who wouldn't hand over their money.
Penny Arcade has pretty much nailed [penny-arcade.com] the idiocy of this launch, as usual.
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You can have my PS3 when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.
Re:Ugliness? How about shooting? (Score:5, Insightful)
And all the people behind the shooting victim worked hard to contain their glee at being able to move up a spot, no doubt.
Seriously, the only people who own a PS3 right now are those who literally have more money than brains. I don't know if this is a sign of the susceptability of young people to marketing/groupthink or what, but there is no rational reason to put up with this nonsense for something that will likely continue to be manufactured and sold for years ("one night only," maybe, but not the launch of a flagship product). If nothing else, the high price of the console is is made all the more unaffordable due to the missed hours of work spent standing in line.
Here's a litmus test: is standing in line for a PS3 something you would be proud to tell your children about a decade from now?
Free graphics preview - slightly disappointing (Score:5, Informative)
My wife works in the Sony building, so I strolled past it last night.
One one side of the Sony building were the dedicated or avaricious would-be-purchasers waiting to buy at midnight, but on the other side of the building there were externally visible screens showing PS3 games being played by people in one of the Sony stores. A preview reel looked awesome, but was simply a video of lots of game clips. The only games I saw being played were : some kind of off-road racing game and Madden 2007. Neither would blow my mind if I saw them on my PS2. There was little to no sign of mindboggling performance, in fact the off-road racing game seemed a bit slow.
I'm a big fan of PS2, having completed several games, but I'm going to wait for my PS3 until a) I can buy one for normal retail price without hassle and b) I see the mind-blowing graphics we're all expecting
No, I can't get one any earlier because I know an employee. In fact they haven't heard whether there will be any available for staff at all. There might be a raffle for 3, something like that.
Why do geeks buy consoles?? (Score:4, Interesting)
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Can't speak for anyone else, but I find absolutely zero innovation in PC games. It's the same genres (FPS, RTS, MMORPG), over and over again, with different licenses or sequel numbers. You'd think with no barriers to entry, no Sony tax, etc., that you'd see more innovation in PC games, but it just doesn't exist: the Katamari Damacys and Guitar Heros of the world show up first, and only, on consoles.
Re:Why do geeks buy consoles?? (Score:5, Insightful)
I got tired of spending the big bucks to maintain a killer PC. Soon I will build a fairly pissed off PC but I'm not spending my money on graphics hardware but on memory and storage because I want to be doing 3d modeling/rendering and video editing. It's nice to have a kick-ass 3D card for your 3d work, but frankly it is not a necessity and a $100 card today beats the living shit out of the sexiest stuff from back in the day - which has always been true but the point is that today even a pile of crap computer is pretty badass.
But the point is that if I buy a game console, it's cheap, it's replaceable, it's portable, it has good controllers, and there's a huge library of games that I know will work. No fucking with my video drivers. No updating DirectMedia so that I can have out-of-sync streaming video behind my characters in Final Fantasy VII. (Which I do have for both PS1 and PC.) And so on.
I mean, Mechwarrior III can't seem to properly draw its interface on the last system I had, running Windows XP... old games have "issues" working. Update DirectX to play a new game, and the old games don't work.
To hell with it. I'll play console games. It does mean I won't be playing first person shooters (I don't believe in playing them without KB+Mouse) but I can live without that. If nothing else it'll probably stop me from burning out my adrenal gland prematurely.
Few reasons (Score:3, Insightful)
2) It's more effort. A console game just works. It has to, there's onl
Seriously. (Score:4, Insightful)
1) It's a video game console, not a cure for cancer. You don't need to get worked up over it.
2) This isn't the only chance you'll have to get one. If it is, you really don't want one anyway.
3) If you seriously didn't think you could be in the "I waited days in line for this and got nothing" group you need several reality checks.
Frankly, I'm scared that I'm going to walk to my car with my brand new Wii and some nut with a gun is going to try and take it from me. These morons seem desperate enough that they'll actually shoot me for it.
Re:Seriously. (Score:5, Funny)
Don't worry, you are preaching to the choir here, most people here are used to waiting for years and still getting none.
Wait, isn't that just capitalism? (Score:4, Insightful)
Wait, using money to pay people is wrong now?! Thank you Cindy Williams of Columbus, Ohio for setting us all straight! I know I'll never make that mistake again. By the way, Cindy, can you further explain what authority a dentist has? I mean, unless he commandeered the store, I'm not really sure what authority he abused.
People with a lot of money can almost always get what they want. It might be unfair, but that's capitalism; deal with it.
millions more linux users (Score:2)
I understand why....but I don't have to like it.. (Score:5, Interesting)
I want a Wii on Sunday, but I'll wait until March. By then, the hype is wore off and a few more games are out.
$2000 for three days in line? (Score:2)
people outside, sleepy, with $700 apiece ... (Score:2)
1st in line, was it worth it? (Score:4, Informative)
The worst part of it was dealing with the corporate nature of Target. The employees were fine and enthusiastic, but the corporate policies were inane. For instance, no tents while they're open (8am to 10pm) with the lows being ~34F and soaking wet. Along with that, no official rules for the line from Target (read this as ass covering) so no waiting inside and no official list guaranteed even after the known slots had been filled--meaning you have to aggressively yet legally assert your place in line with an onslaught of douchebags trying to take your spot when you get up to take a piss.
Would I do it again? Probably not. Am I glad to have a PS3, HELL YES! After work today is going to be insane!
Re:1st in line, was it worth it? (Score:5, Insightful)
"Inane?" They're a retail store, not a campground! If anything, you should just be happy that you were allowed to loiter outside the store to begin with, as your presence no doubt had an intimidating effect on the store's more legitimate customers. The people in the lines I saw differed from the people I see on streetcorners holding their cardboard signs only by degree.
"Along with that, no official rules for the line from Target (read this as ass covering) "
No, read it as "Not their fucking job."
"After work today is going to be insane!"
And after Monday? After next week? Next month? Next year? Will the insanity you participated in still have been worth it once the novelty has worn off?
Here's a question: of all the people who stood in line for a PS3 in the US, how many voted ten days ago?
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A sad day. (Score:5, Funny)
More Dollars than What? (Score:4, Funny)
(Hint: Most people have more Cents than Dollars. Usually 100X more.)
I'll bet (Score:5, Funny)
Hold the stores accountable. (Score:3, Interesting)
They should have either forced these people to go home or they should have kept things organized. When you've got a crowd of people with such misplaced priorities waiting so long it's inevitable there will be problems. If the store manager didn't have enough sense to prepare the responsibility for whatever problems ensue falls squarely on his shoulders. The tax payers certainly shouldn't be forced to pay to restore order at these stores.
Skip the line, buy a PC (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:got fraud? (Score:5, Insightful)
This already exists. It's called an escrow service.
"what's to say people at ups or fedex aren't scanning boxes with a x-ray machine to identify a box with a ps3 in it
The same thing that says people in other professions also should not steal: they'll lose their job and may wind up in jail if caught. That might not stop some FedEx/UPS/USPS employees but I imagine the lion's share of them aren't going to risk their job (all 3 of which have nice benefits and excellent retirement packages though not a flashy payscale) over a $600 game system. And whoever is paying out that insurance is going to be pretty motivated to find the culprit(s).
I'm sure fraud will happen but far more people will conduct perfectly legal transactions than not.
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You sure that's a joke? Once I got 428035.42 USD for an original Atari 2600 "Haunted House" game cartridge on eBay. How do you think I afford all the whiskey and hookers?
I don't like the cynical tone of your posting, pal.
Re:Who will win? (Score:4, Informative)
I don't know who will win, but I know a guy who lost! [todaystmj4.com] Well, he lost a PS3 chance, but is probably going to win a few 100 grand in a lawsuit. Seriously, this Wal-Mart manager who thought a 'race' to 10 seats was a good idea should be fired.
Cheers,
Fozzy
Re:Does anyone actually *have* one? To play? (Score:5, Funny)