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They probably got more than that. Gamestop sold bundles to try and stop scalping. They've removed a few from their site, but they basically had a switch + zelda, or + splatoon, or + whateverothergame, or +2 games, or you could shell out $640 for the ultimate bundle.

The thinking was that you have a sought-after $50-$60 game, if you force buyers to pay $300 for a system too, they are much less likely to dive in for the quick-and-easy profits off of a single game. Who knows if it worked, since the Switch was going for stupidly high prices on eBay too.

Gamestop usually doesn't buy back PC games anyway due to activation codes and/or the ability for the person to keep a copy of said game onto their harddrive. This would explain the whopping selection of 2 games in their pre-owned PC section.

Just to illustrate:
http://www.gamestop.com/browse...

Also note the mere $2 difference between the new and used version of that fairly old game.

Used Wii bundle. $79 at Gamestop.

http://www.gamestop.com/wii

The XBox 360 has a 3.5mm jack on the controller, for headsets to plug into.

You mean 2.5mm. The original Xbox had one of these too, but you had to use a doodad that connected through the memory card port in the controller. Kind of like how they forced you to purchase a remote control in order to watch DVDs. Also the original headset for the 360 was designed in such a way that it utilized a connector that prevented its use with anything other than a first party (or similarly designed third party) Xbox 360 controller.

The PS3 did not.

The PS3 instead supported standard USB headsets and Bluetooth headsets which are just as prevalent (if not more so, combined) than 2.5mm headsets. Also, this is in stark contrast to the Xbox 360's wireless headset, which used a proprietary RF interface. The only time, to my knowledge, that the Xbox 360 supported a USB microphone was in Rock Band and its sequels.

Then there's the storage drives. For the PS3 it was a 2.5" SATA drive hidden behind a little door, and could be easily removed and replaced. The Xbox 360 utilized 2.5" SATA drives as well, but hidden inside a proprietary case with a proprietary connector that was only to be replaced with other Microsoft manufactured drives. The 360 S *also* used 2.5" SATA drives, but in a different casing that made it entirely incompatible with the original 360 drives (both of which are sold at an exorbitant markup versus standard SATA drives), and to transfer data between drives you had to have a proprietary cable.

Then there was the proprietary Wifi adapter for the 360, and Xbox Live, which is necessary to play games online, be involved in party chats, use the web browser, and watch videos through other services you may already be paying for (including YouTube, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Comcast's Xfinity among many others) which went from $45 per year to $60 per year (or from $8/mo to $10/mo).

So let's not get all high and mighty about which console manufacturer is better than the other. They all do it. That's what console gaming has become. And if you don't like it, your option is to either wait for Steam Machines or build yourself a PC, because that's the alternative.

The XBox 360 has a 3.5mm jack on the controller, for headsets to plug into.

You mean 2.5mm. The original Xbox had one of these too, but you had to use a doodad that connected through the memory card port in the controller. Kind of like how they forced you to purchase a remote control in order to watch DVDs. Also the original headset for the 360 was designed in such a way that it utilized a connector that prevented its use with anything other than a first party (or similarly designed third party) Xbox 360 controller.

The PS3 did not.

The PS3 instead supported standard USB headsets and Bluetooth headsets which are just as prevalent (if not more so, combined) than 2.5mm headsets. Also, this is in stark contrast to the Xbox 360's wireless headset, which used a proprietary RF interface. The only time, to my knowledge, that the Xbox 360 supported a USB microphone was in Rock Band and its sequels.

Then there's the storage drives. For the PS3 it was a 2.5" SATA drive hidden behind a little door, and could be easily removed and replaced. The Xbox 360 utilized 2.5" SATA drives as well, but hidden inside a proprietary case with a proprietary connector that was only to be replaced with other Microsoft manufactured drives. The 360 S *also* used 2.5" SATA drives, but in a different casing that made it entirely incompatible with the original 360 drives (both of which are sold at an exorbitant markup versus standard SATA drives), and to transfer data between drives you had to have a proprietary cable.

Then there was the proprietary Wifi adapter for the 360, and Xbox Live, which is necessary to play games online, be involved in party chats, use the web browser, and watch videos through other services you may already be paying for (including YouTube, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Comcast's Xfinity among many others) which went from $45 per year to $60 per year (or from $8/mo to $10/mo).

So let's not get all high and mighty about which console manufacturer is better than the other. They all do it. That's what console gaming has become. And if you don't like it, your option is to either wait for Steam Machines or build yourself a PC, because that's the alternative.

I have Fruit Ninja on a 42" screen. It works really well too since the touch interface was replaced with a Kinect interface. http://www.gamestop.com/xbox-360/games/fruit-ninja-kinect-xbox-360-live-marketplace-800-points/92713

"you clearly point out that there are programs better supported in Windows"

The fact that Microsoft has succeeded in removing choices from the user doesn't make their shitty OS better. On the contrary, it makes it that much worse.

" How many are that 1%? "

Math isn't your strong suit I take it (Hint: It doesn't matter; it's still a mere 1%)

"... please tell me what computer games are supposed to be played on..."

Your on Slashdot and you haven't heard of gaming consoles? Seriously? There is a reason why they are called video games, not "computer games".

• Tablet Wireless Bluetooth Controller by GameStop: I checked availability, and this product is available for in-store pickup only in select GameStop stores, not in either of the two GameStop stores in my city. So this product is less expensive than the iControlPad but still only available through mail order to many customers.
• Tablet Wireless Keyboard Controller by GameStop: Unavailable until September 25, 2012. Preorders are not available for in-store pick-up.
• Play Pad Controller (3 models) by Nyko: Unavailable until October 4, 2012. Preorders are not available for in-store pick-up.

Really?

GameStop has also been getting into the refurbished iDevice market. There will always be hardware of some kind to (re)sell.

That's the curve. The problem for publishers is that they have to compete with their own used games at the end of this curve.

Excellent statement but this bit is a bit off. The problem for publishers is not at the end of the curve, but at the start. Game chains like GameStop will carefully calculate demand and order as few copies as they need to seed a local market of used copies. They will do their best to brainwash children into beating games and return them for "amazing credit value" (rip-off values) and then push a full wall of these new titles for a $2 dollar discount.

Heck, look at Modern Warfare right now at GameStop's website. Amazing savings, eh? $2 whole bucks saved in exchange of a box filled with store stickers and thorn box!

You will find even great games back in the used bins in large numbers and an artificially created scarcity for new copies of the "hot" title. See, kids eventually are "educated" that should they return the game as soon as they can from release date, they will get more money back (still a rip-off value but a lesser rip-off.) This is not a new practice, but as games get more expensive to produce, and the market becomes more competitive, it becomes a larger issue, especially for smaller game titles (not so much for the Modern Warfare’s of the world.)

I actually perceive the end of the curve used copies to be extremely undesirable for most people. At that point they are so thorn and destroyed that you may as well just get the new copy for $20.

This is one of the reasons online play has become so big in the last few years: online components tend to encourage people to keep their games for longer instead of just beating a campaign and returning the thing.

Not sure where you are seeing an actual game for the PSVita for $15!

I am seeing DLC available for $15, but not an actual game...

And you can't blame "aim assist" because many console gamers turn it off.

Nobody blames aim assist. In fact, the more cannon fodder that keeps it turned on the better. Any (serious) person who used a mouse would never turn it on because it would totally ruin their game. You see, people who use a mouse shoot people like you in the head all day long, aim assist will 'snap' to the chest and ruin the head shot. You think you're a match for a mouse user, but you've never played against a mouse user. I have, I beat all console gamers without even trying. Your control surface for FPS is a total joke. The only thing you should be doing with joysticks is playing "bionic commando" or maybe an airplane game, but you'd probably be better off buying a real joystick (MS FFB2) to fly and I personally like the D-Pad more for games like bionic commando. Just ask yourself if you can tau jump do a 163'/37' turn, tau jump, do a 27'/47' turn and shoot a crossbow at a 4pxX4px head in 1920x1080. Because that shit is par for the course if you want to play mouse users. I only wish I could see the frustrated console gamers trying to play

Non-Sony, dongle-less PS3 controller
http://www.gamestop.com/ps3/accessories/gioteck-ps3-hf-2-bluetooth-wireless-controller/90929?affid=9797&cid=ppc_60000001

PS3 controler on PC via bluetooth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJnuekAp7Fk

PS keypad on PC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQoqreZ8cw

Just sayin...

Actually, no it isn't funny. Now buy!

Just for anyone interested (I was), the law cited is:

The owner cited European law Directive 1999/44/EC — which states that goods must (1) comply with the description given by the seller and possess the same qualities and characteristics as other similar goods, and (2) be fit for the purpose which the consumer requires them and which was made known to the seller at the time of purchase. How many other European PS3 owners will follow suit?

I'll be asking for a refund from GameStop as I also were required to remove the portion to be able to buy new games.

I assume you told the GameStop clerk that you were purchasing the PS3 specifically for the particular purpose of installing another OS?

In the US, it's even more explicit:

Uniform Commercial Code 2-315. Implied Warranty: Fitness for Particular Purpose. Where the seller at the time of contracting has reason to know any particular purpose for which the goods are required and that the buyer is relying on the seller's skill or judgment to select or furnish suitable goods, there is unless excluded or modified under the next section an implied warranty that the goods shall be fit for such purpose.

Nonetheless, I doubt Gamestop would give you a refund, and I'm really surprised Amazon gave this guy a warranty:
Gamestop (from http://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/disclaimer.aspx:

TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW, GAMESTOP DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

And Amazon (from http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=footer_cou?ie=UTF8&nodeId=508088:

TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW, AMAZON DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

And of course, if you go back to the source, here's the one that came in the box with your PS3 (from Sony, here http://us.playstation.com/support/warranties/ps3/index.htm):

THIS WARRANTY IS PROVIDED TO YOU IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE FOR THE PS3 HARDWARE, WHICH ARE DISCLAIMED HEREUNDER. HOWEVER, IF SUCH WARRANTIES ARE REQUIRED AS A MATTER OF LAW, THEN THEY ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

Damm!

http://www.gamestop.com/browse/search.aspx?N=0&Ntk=TitleKeyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntt=%20%09Dragon%20Age%20Origins:%20Awakening

They sell boxed copies as well. A search on gamestop.com shows this.

And as that search shows, they also sell copies for the 360, which is definitely not steam. Plus, something tells me that most game companies don't like pissing off an entire national gov't. Just a thought though.

These are estimated costs from the Gamestop Website.

Sony PSP: $170 ($120 refurbed) Nintendo DS: $170 ($80 refurbed) Nintendo Wii: $250

Apple Touch 8G: $229 32G: $399

Apples Potential Strategy: 1. Alter the touch to add an up/down/left/right and A, B button (10 extra bucks from a manufacturing standpoint!? I'm pulling this number out of my ass... but adding something that simple and mass producing can't be expensive) 2. Release the 16gig as the new 8gig ($225... maybe bring it down down $199 to combat current systems) 3. Now hardcores get what they want, wii crowd gets a portable wii like system 4. Introduce a massive new crowd to the iTunes store who might not have used it before 5. Massive profit

No, not MORE buttons on the device. That is not an Apple philosophy. If it only were 2 cm taller, left and right on the touchscreen (tilted sideways) would be room for buttons though...

These are estimated costs from the Gamestop Website.

Sony PSP: $170 ($120 refurbed)
Nintendo DS: $170 ($80 refurbed)
Nintendo Wii: $250

Apple Touch 8G: $229
32G: $399

Apples Potential Strategy:
1. Alter the touch to add an up/down/left/right and A, B button (10 extra bucks from a manufacturing standpoint!? I'm pulling this number out of my ass... but adding something that simple and mass producing can't be expensive)
2. Release the 16gig as the new 8gig ($225... maybe bring it down down $199 to combat current systems)
3. Now hardcores get what they want, wii crowd gets a portable wii like system
4. Introduce a massive new crowd to the iTunes store who might not have used it before
5. Massive profit

I'd like to point out a piece of information that no one has yet referenced-- when you buy a game "opened new" from Gamestop you actually have much worse rights to return it than if it actually has its proper shrinkwrap on it. An important distinction given that most of the time they try to sell me an "opened new" copy they haven't re-shrinkwrapped it. Check out this excerpt from their return policy, located at http://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/Store%20Return%20Policy.pdf :

- Unopened new merchandise may be returned for a refund or exchanged within 30 days of purchase.

- Opened new merchandise may be exchanged for the identical item within 30 days of purchase but, with the exception of opened new accessories, cannot be returned for a refund.

Yeah, you read that right. If they do in fact sucker you in to buying an "opened new" copy, you can't return it for a refund, you can only exchange it, making you even more screwed. What I personally love about this policy is that it thoroughly ruins their BS argument that an "opened new" game is exactly the same-- per THEIR OWN RETURN POLICY it's not, it's far less valuable.

Wow. Tell us how you really feel.

Your argument is vastly flawed. This is not the same as Microsoft and IE by any measure (which is NOT as big an issue as you seem to believe BTW). Really, Valve does have some competition thanks to Microsoft's Live! (Xbox/PC games) but you are missing the biggest reasoning to why you WANT only one or two companies handling all of that:

Games are social.

Steam is not just a game distribution system, and does not just have a DRM element to appease some publishers. It is also a giant social network tied in to your games so you can easily join friends, talk to friends in game, form clans/guilds/groups and gain achievements. Its like combining MySpace/Facebook with Xfire without having to have anything additional installed.

And just like with MySpace/Facebook the value is with the number of participants. Now you don't have to join the Steam Community, but the community is large and that's why it will stay large. "Everyone" is on it already so you can already talk to "everyone". This Is A Good Thing. Otherwise the service would be useless.

What you were comparing it to was a company actively trying to inhibit consumers from doing what they want and to use questionable ethics in dealings with competitors and OEMs in order to foist their product on everyone. Steam does not make any of the games there (parent company Valve does make some but not all) and they actively try to *enable* the consumer.

Right now there is really only two things to complain about, and one you'll complain about if Steam was gone: 1) You have to briefly connect to the internet when installing the game (YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ONCE ITS BEEN INSTALLED; They have long since fixed "offline mode") and 2) Its Windows only (this is the bit you'd complain about anyways thanks to DirectX). The pricing is again NOT determined by them alone. Steam also actively enables the DEVELOPER who gets more say in setting the price than they would through someone like Vivindi.

Oh and this statement: "It's probably also worth noting that Gamestop refused to sell Dawn of War 2 in the end for exactly the reason that it forced Steam, a competing distribution channel, on it's customers." is bullshit. Go here: http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=647337 and look you can buy the damn thing. There were rumors GameStop was being pissy, but you can't blame Valve/Steam if Relic decided to use their DRM solution rather than something else. God forbid anyone make anything good, they'll get a monopoly and we'll all be doomed.

DOW2 has a lot of issues. The only ones I've had seem to be related to the NVIDIA drivers (of which there have been 2 update in a rather short period and most of the issues have gone away for me after the 2nd one). I've yet to hear of any DRM or Steam related issues. All the issues have been graphic driver or memory related.

Well I'm playing Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn right now, but after that, I want a new RPG, and the selection of 8 total, half of which are only pre-orders, seemed very bad for a system that has been out 2 years now. The Little King's Story and Opoona look really quite pathetic as well. Compare that to the selection at http://www.gamestop.com/Browse/Search.aspx?N=133+106 (35 games) and you might understand where I'm coming from.

The Wii does have a pretty poor selection of RPGs, I'll grant. That said, it does shine in other areas.

Fable 2 seems to be a 360 exclusive, no PC version that I've seen, and I don't really know if my hardware is new enough to play most new PC games anyway. Why spend a $300-$600 on a Motherboard/RAM/CPU/Video card to upgrade when I can just get a 360 for $200 and play the same games like Oblivion anyway?

Because without mods, Oblivion isn't worth it. Bethesda really has a bad habit of making mediocre games with great potential, and then letting the modding community clean up their mess for them. Fable 2 might be good, but if it's similar to the first one, then I'd hesitate to classify it as an RPG. Vanilla Oblivion is just terrible, though. Fortunately, Fallout 3 is pretty excellent out-of-the box, so maybe The Elder Scrolls 5 will be too.

Well I'm playing Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn right now, but after that, I want a new RPG, and the selection of 8 total, half of which are only pre-orders, seemed very bad for a system that has been out 2 years now. The Little King's Story and Opoona look really quite pathetic as well. Compare that to the selection at http://www.gamestop.com/Browse/Search.aspx?N=133+106 (35 games) and you might understand where I'm coming from.

Fable 2 seems to be a 360 exclusive, no PC version that I've seen, and I don't really know if my hardware is new enough to play most new PC games anyway. Why spend a $300-$600 on a Motherboard/RAM/CPU/Video card to upgrade when I can just get a 360 for $200 and play the same games like Oblivion anyway?

Have you seen this selection? http://www.gamestop.com/Browse/Search.aspx?N=138+106 - It's really quite sad.

What, good games make you sad? Especially if you're not limiting yourself to RPGs.

So maybe I'll be able to find a store that actually has Wiis in stock by 2011, since they'll be obsolete by then?

Seriously, of the 3 - Playstation, XBox, Wii - only Nintendo hasn't made any price cuts, and they still can't keep them on the shelves for more than a day or two.

A bet a lot of people might start selling back Wiis to stores eventually. After the great opening games like Metroid and Zelda, there hasn't really been anything worth buying recently for the Wii. Have you seen this selection? http://www.gamestop.com/Browse/Search.aspx?N=138+106 - It's really quite sad. I'm thinking about getting an Xbox 360 as a 2nd system, but I'd probably keep my Wii just in case something comes out later on.

In a seemingly sleazy move, GameStop has added a $15 "Handling Fee" to the WotLK Collector's Edition. Not a SHIPPING and Handling fee mind you, shipping is extra. This is just straight grafting in the style of:

"Oh HO, it seems some of you WANT this product do you? And we're the only one with the Collector's Edition right now! Weeellp, the box is all the way over there on the shelf and I'm kinda tired... maybe an extra $15 could motivate me to lean over there and get it for you. If you don't, I'm sure someone else will pay extra for the LIMITED SUPPLY of these! You've made the right choice."

http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=72700

http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=647480

Link to Collector's Edition PreOrder thanks to the AC above for finding it on GameStop.
 
Jonah HEX

Notably, the price is in Australian dollars. In American its 81.36$. Still a huge markup for apparently no reason.

Er... to confirm the game prices... $49.99 and $79.99 for the regular or "collectors" edition, respectively.

It would be helpful to identify which version people are talking about. Because that $81.36 would be on par with the "collectors" edition version.

You know that EB is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gamestop, right?

Compare: EB Gamestop

You know, though, the one thing I really don't like about the Classic Controller is - it actually does have a cord - you use the cord to connect it to the remote. Not a terrible solution overall (I do appreciate that inexpensive controllers can be made effectively cordless by combination with the remote) but I feel like it'd be preferable to just have the two controllers dock... I suppose the reason it doesn't is because of the bulk and weight of the remote...

I find these grips to be worth the $$. It actually adds a real comfortable feel to the classic controllers. Also if you feel the Wiimote adds too much weight you can always unclip it (the grip and doc are 2 seperate pieces). This I'm good with for all VC titles pre-N64. The only N64 title that I find works better with the classic controller (than the Wavebird) is Sin & Punishment. If they were to offer a Wavebird (or N64 for that matter) shell that I could dock the remote in, they would have another sale.

Ever since Bungie was purchased by Microsoft, they've done nothing but produce Halo for the XBox. No PC ports,

You can buy Halo and Halo 2 for PC right now:
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=645137
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=646888

no different games, they're barely even allowed to produce story-driven single player content.

Have you even played the single-player story in the Halo series? I know more than a couple people who bought Halo 3 to specifically see how the story ends, and have no interest in multiplayer at all.

the Marathon series (which was intended to tie in to Halo), the Myth series, even Pathways into Darkness was more original than Halo 3.

There were three games in the Marathon series, over about the same timespan the three Halo games came out. Surely Halo 3 is not *that* original, but neither was Marathon 3. In fact, Halo 3 is a lot more innovative over previous Halo games than Marathon 3 was over previous Marathon games... not only does Halo 3 have a vastly modified and improved engine (that Marathon 3 didn't have), but it has additional gameplay elements, like deployable items.

I was angry with Bungie when, just a few months before Halo was to be released as a Mac exclusive,

Halo was never intended to be a Mac exclusive. It was intended to be released first for Mac, then ported to Windows shortly afterward.

Bungie has had its creativity stifled for quite some time now and they've finally realized it.

Do you have any basis for saying this? Or is it just the normal Slashdot "I made something up then presented it as fact?" I've never heard anything about stifled creativity from any Bungie employees or anybody else in the industry.

Come to think of it, is there a single fact in your entire post?

Ever since Bungie was purchased by Microsoft, they've done nothing but produce Halo for the XBox. No PC ports,

You can buy Halo and Halo 2 for PC right now:
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=645137
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=646888

no different games, they're barely even allowed to produce story-driven single player content.

Have you even played the single-player story in the Halo series? I know more than a couple people who bought Halo 3 to specifically see how the story ends, and have no interest in multiplayer at all.

the Marathon series (which was intended to tie in to Halo), the Myth series, even Pathways into Darkness was more original than Halo 3.

There were three games in the Marathon series, over about the same timespan the three Halo games came out. Surely Halo 3 is not *that* original, but neither was Marathon 3. In fact, Halo 3 is a lot more innovative over previous Halo games than Marathon 3 was over previous Marathon games... not only does Halo 3 have a vastly modified and improved engine (that Marathon 3 didn't have), but it has additional gameplay elements, like deployable items.

I was angry with Bungie when, just a few months before Halo was to be released as a Mac exclusive,

Halo was never intended to be a Mac exclusive. It was intended to be released first for Mac, then ported to Windows shortly afterward.

Bungie has had its creativity stifled for quite some time now and they've finally realized it.

Do you have any basis for saying this? Or is it just the normal Slashdot "I made something up then presented it as fact?" I've never heard anything about stifled creativity from any Bungie employees or anybody else in the industry.

Come to think of it, is there a single fact in your entire post?

done. announcement here http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/promotions/red vsblue/default.htm, and the actual video http://www.gamestop.com/gs/halo3/halo3.asp?

$260 + tax for the full set (game, mic, 2 guitars, drum kit), according to Gamestop's preorder system. That's $200 for the single guitar bundle, then $60 for an extra guitar.

$260 + tax for the full set (game, mic, 2 guitars, drum kit), according to Gamestop's preorder system. That's $200 for the single guitar bundle, then $60 for an extra guitar.

They did? Make sure you tell Gamestop, because they're still selling nonexistent systems.

I was able to track one down from EBGames using the following URL:

http://www.gamestop.com/productavail.asp?miles=50& sku=020070&zip=33607&product_name=nintendo+wii&pla tforms=&sbox=&status=&bn=False

Just replace the ZIP code in the URL with your own.

I lucked out and a location near my office was showing 4 units in stock so I called to verify and then picked one up on my way home.

They make this neat thing called the "Internet", and I hear you can even order one through this newfangled technology.

Nintendo's gotten better in the last 20 years. I can't say Sony has started to treat consumers better, so they're still on my shitlist. I'll give a company a chance to change... will you?

The PS3 60GB model has an amazing sales rank of 58

So while you can find them in some stores, the PS3 must be doing something right if people are willing to pay $100 above retail to get them through Amazon.

The PS3 60GB model has an amazing sales rank of 58

So while you can find them in some stores, the PS3 must be doing something right if people are willing to pay $100 above retail to get them through Amazon.

bullshit, the PS3 is sitting on store shelves, anyone who wants one can get one at MSRP

Actually, even though the Wii is hard to find, I saw two Wii consoles on sale at a small GameStop store just one block from Northgate Mall in Seattle, as well as the usual stack of PS3 consoles. So you can buy them, at least as of Sunday afternoon. Both consoles.

The crossed out price on Amazon is the $30. If they could claim a higher percentage discount from 35, they would.

Tetris at Amazon
Tetris at Gamestop

http://www.gamestop.com/search.asp?Ntk=TitleKeywor d&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntt=phantom+hourglass &N=0 shows 6/01/07 ship date

Funny... I live in LA. I had a hell of a time getting my hands on a Wii and still haven't seen any "lying around". Gamestop only gives me this when I try to look up the Wii. Strangely, when I go look at the PS3 I get this, so I enter my ZIP (90028) and discover I could have picked one up when I was in Pasadena earlier today, in Eagle Rock when I hang out with a friend later, or I could drive 6 miles to Baldwin Hills if I want to go to the nearest store. Where are these Wiis you speak of? I have friends who would like to find this mythical stockpile.

Funny... I live in LA. I had a hell of a time getting my hands on a Wii and still haven't seen any "lying around". Gamestop only gives me this when I try to look up the Wii. Strangely, when I go look at the PS3 I get this, so I enter my ZIP (90028) and discover I could have picked one up when I was in Pasadena earlier today, in Eagle Rock when I hang out with a friend later, or I could drive 6 miles to Baldwin Hills if I want to go to the nearest store. Where are these Wiis you speak of? I have friends who would like to find this mythical stockpile.

I'll give the grandparent one thing, there are places where they aren't everywhere yet. For example, try my zip code (92656) on the ebgames store list and you have to go 22 miles before you get a store that has any in stock for the 60GB model , or 10 miles for the 20GB. The drive for the 20GB isn't that bad, but it'd be a pretty dedicated person who'd drive from here to the stores with the 60GB to buy one.

Although, I'd think the area I live in would be on the lower end of the "PS3 availability" spectrum, seeing as the ratio of people with too much money to the rest of the population is higher then most of the US.

And of course, I've seen PS3s around now and then when I go to an electronics or games store. Most people who are actually looking for one probably could have found one in my area by now.

I'll give the grandparent one thing, there are places where they aren't everywhere yet. For example, try my zip code (92656) on the ebgames store list and you have to go 22 miles before you get a store that has any in stock for the 60GB model , or 10 miles for the 20GB. The drive for the 20GB isn't that bad, but it'd be a pretty dedicated person who'd drive from here to the stores with the 60GB to buy one.

Although, I'd think the area I live in would be on the lower end of the "PS3 availability" spectrum, seeing as the ratio of people with too much money to the rest of the population is higher then most of the US.

And of course, I've seen PS3s around now and then when I go to an electronics or games store. Most people who are actually looking for one probably could have found one in my area by now.