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The PlayStation 3 Launches In the U.S.
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'm watching the news right now.
This is possibly the dumbest, saddest thing I've ever seen.
It Is Just A Fucking Game, Damn It! I wish everyone would grow the fuck up.
Associated Press (CNN, Yahoo), 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 the idiocy of this launch, as usual.
It seems to me that geeks would rather play on a PC, where you can hack the game if you don't like it. What is the allure of consoles? I don't get it. I bought an Xbox, but I never play games on the thing - I'd rather be on a PC.
I understand why the things are limited, but I don't have to like it. What I want to know is, why release these damn things in the busiest season? The only reason I come up with is everyone wants their little Johnny to have that PS3 xmas or to sell them on eBay plus the fact that alot of people in this country lose their heads all in the name of the almighty money spending holiday called Christmas.
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.
Gorkman
I'm actually reasonably disturbed by the Chaos that has been created by greed ...
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.
At $3000, that's about five times the retail price and significantly more than my monthly mortgage payment. Supposing I did have $3000 in surplus cash, were I to use those funds to pay down principal on my mortgage instead of buying that PS3 I would shave a bit more than a years worth of mortgage payments from the end of the loan. Thus, to pay five times retail for a toy would incur a long term loss in excess of $24,000.
Think about that.
While capitalism can be ugly, I don't think this practice is as bad as the reselling that's going on.
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 someone else.
It's similar to paying someone to pick up tickets for you, compared to a scalper buying all the tickets, and selling them at a ridiculous margin.
Yeah, except for Resistance (88%), the PS3 exclu launch titles are all real stinkers:
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)