The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) has some interesting coverage on today’s release of Sony’s PlayStation 3 gaming console. Despite being priced much higher than Nintendo’s Wii or Microsoft’s Xbox, customers have been camping for days, forming long lines, and putting up with all sorts of craziness. Here are a few excerpts that give the specifics of the happenings around the country:
Being Shot At for a PlayStation 3
“In Connecticut, two armed men tried to rob a line of 15 to 20 people waiting outside a Putnam Wal-Mart store at 3 a.m. One man who refused to give up the money was shot in the chest and shoulder, authorities said. The two gunmen fled and the victim, a 21-year-old Massachusetts man, was taken to University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, police said. The victim was in stable condition with injuries not believed to be life threatening.”
Hitting Your Head for a PlayStation 3
“In Palmdale, Calif., authorities shut down a Super Wal-Mart after some shoppers got rowdy late Wednesday. In West Bend, Wis., a 19-year-old man ran into a pole and struck his head racing with 50 others for one of 10 spots outside a Wal-Mart.”
How to Go to the Bathroom When Waiting in Line for a PlayStation 3
“At a Best Buy in Boston with 140 machines for sale, employees simply gave out tickets for the first 140 in line so that everyone could go home. At San Francisco’s Sony Metreon mall, a “sacred scroll” notebook kept track of the first 505 people in line so they could go to the bathroom or pick up food without losing their spots. Some got wristbands guaranteeing a unit.”
How to Make Money from PlayStation 3 Shoppers
“There was even a vibrant economy in Mount Laurel, N.J. Restaurants not only delivered pizza and wings, but also dispatched workers to hand out menus. The Dick’s Sporting Goods store nearby sold camp chairs and more than a few tents.”
