The Playstation 3 Causes Chaos!

[Revivalry]

Say what you will about Microsoft’s Zune launch, it didn’t cause anywhere near the death, destruction, and sheer mayhem that yesterday’s PlayStation 3 launch caused. Reports of shootings, thefts, and generally stupid behavior are flooding in from across America. The details make a George Romero film seem tame by comparison. We have apparently become a nation of PlayStation Zombies.
Some highlights:

• A Boston area man was shot while waiting in line outside of Wal-Mart. Thieves apparently got wise to the fact that many of the people waiting for to buy the PS3 were carrying large sums of cash.
• In Indiana, a rampaging crowd tried to force its way inside a Circuit City before being restrained by local police.
• In Wisconsin, a Wal-Mart store manager inadvertently set off a stampede that nearly crushed several shoppers. The store apparently had only 10 PlayStations for sale. In a brilliant attempt at crowd control, the manager setup an impromptu version of musical chairs then instructed the crowd of would-be PS3 owners to fight over 10 lawn chairs. During the ensuing chaos a 19-year-old ran head first into a pole and knocked himself out. He didn’t get a PlayStation, but he did get a concussion.
• In New Hampshire, several PS3’s were stolen from a Best Buy before they could ever go on sale. Store officials called in police for fear that the crowd in front of the store would become unruly once word got out.
• In Washington, a teen who had waited in line for a day and a half was robbed by masked gunmen just 30 minutes after making his purchase.
• Gunmen stole several PS3’s from a Northern California store the day before it was set to go on sale.
• Police were called in to breakup an unruly crowd who’d gathered in front of a Fresno Best Buy prior to the PS3 launch. The near riot was reportedly set off by a middle aged man with a mohawk, identified only as Fat Jerry.
• A women, nine months pregnant, stood in line for three days trying to avoid going into labor the whole time. During an interview she revealed that she hates video games and is hoping to sell the system on eBay for several thousand dollars. Is this the return of trickle down economics?
• Most of the rape and pillage seems to have been inspired by reports of PlayStation 3’s selling on eBay for up to $9,000. However, a search of completed listings reveals most PS3’s have sold for between $1,000 and $1,500.
• At least one lucky PS3 purchaser who managed to buy a unit without being robbed at gunpoint had no intention of selling the player or taking it home and plugging it in. Representatives of a group known only as SmashMyPS3 destroyed a PS3 with a sledgehammer in front of a long line of stunned PlayStation fans outside of a Best Buy. Video below.

For those willing to forgo death and destruction on PS3 launch day, Sony has indicated they expect to ship more units before the end of the year.
View the Fox News flash here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaHaI...elated&search=

Discuss & Comments PLS

[Homesrfan]

Nice post, weird people.

All for a PS3?!?!

[RedStratocas]

Actually, that first story, that man is actually from Connecticut. I live there, so it was pretty big news. The guy deserved it though. He didnt give up his cash with a gun to his head, because he needed the money for video games. If you think Play Station > Not being shot, you deserve to be shot.

[HUGECOOL]

imo, the PS3 launch was very poorly organized. I believe Sony should have waited more until more consoles were available and this wouldn't have been an issue. But of course, it would be pretty silly of them to miss the holiday launch.

[Sony.Com]

imo, the PS3 launch was very poorly organized. I believe Sony should have waited more until more consoles were available and this wouldn't have been an issue. But of course, it would be pretty silly of them to miss the holiday launch.

I agree... Even if they waited a week or two more they could have made acouple thousand more systems.. Which would go a long way atm..

[Josh-H]

Actually, that first story, that man is actually from Connecticut. I live there, so it was pretty big news. The guy deserved it though. He didnt give up his cash with a gun to his head, because he needed the money for video games. If you think Play Station > Not being shot, you deserve to be shot.

Well I could justify anyone being shot for money, I dont think you can say he deserved to be shot for not handing his money over... But yer, he should of gave them the money.

[NekkLe]

Thats shocking stuff. Has there been an official release date for the UK? they seem to keep moving it around last I read about it.

[SimplyTech]

Yeh but a shortage of consoles gives more hype

[RedStratocas]

Well I could justify anyone being shot for money, I dont think you can say he deserved to be shot for not handing his money over... But yer, he should of gave them the money.

No, judging by what the witnesses said, he deserved to be shot. They asked him for the money twice, he said no both times. When someone has a gun pointed at you, THEY have the control, not you. He was an idiot and didnt give up his money.

And actually, Sony was actually smart for not putting more out. Remember the fires that happened with the XBox 360? And now the Wii is having a controller strap problems. Sony is expecting the worst. If something is wrong with the systems, they only have a few out there to recall.

[HUGECOOL]

And actually, Sony was actually smart for not putting more out. Remember the fires that happened with the XBox 360? And now the Wii is having a controller strap problems. Sony is expecting the worst. If something is wrong with the systems, they only have a few out there to recall.

It wasn't a planned strategy to have blue laser diode shortages. If anything, Sony would've loved to sell a million consoles by Christmas. They're taking huge profit losses per console sold and their software isn't exactly flying off the shelves (because few people have PS3s atm). December is the month game companies (and most consumer goods companies) prepare for all year round- it's the reason both Sony and Nintendo planned their launches near the holidays. Recalling tons of consoles doesn't matter- the console was sold and the money was made, and any issue that may arise can be ammeliorated eventually regardless of the number of consoles to be fixed. Yes, it would provide for better customer support to fix hardware issues with less consoles, but it isn't something that was planned to happen.