PS3 horror stories
Shootings and small riots distrupt PS3 launch
November 17, 2006
The PlayStation 3 launched in North America today, and with it came a barrage of stories from people waiting in line over the past few days.
As Game-Machines.com reported yesterday, a lineup outside a Kentucky Best Buy location was subject to a barrage of pellets from a BB gun, as attackers drove by in a truck while the lineup was being interviewed by a local television station.
On Wednesday, a California Super Wal-Mart had to be briefly closed down after a crowd of PS3 campers began causing disturbances. The chaos broke out when campers waiting inside the Wal-mart store were told to move inside. Several who had been waiting in line ran into the store, pushing over customers and knocking down merchandise in their path.
In Wisconsin yesterday, about 60 people were waiting in line at another Wal-Mart. Upon learning that there were only ten PS3 systems available, and that they would be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, the crowd errupted into violence as everyone attempted to rush to the front. One man had his face shoved into a telephone pole, and an ambulance had to be called in.
In Putnam, Connecticut, a two armed men arrived at a Wal-Mart and attempted to rob the line up of people waiting in line for PlayStation 3 consoles. One man refused to hand over his money and was shot by one of the robbers. He remains in a Connecticut hospital in stable condition. The Police were unable to apprehend the men before they escaped.
Other reports indicate that a similar mugging took place in New York, NY.
In San Francisco this morning, a staged shipment of PS3 systems arrived with Sony Computer Entertainment America's president and an army escort. The escort consisted of actors, but based on some of the events over the past two days, the real deal may have been more appropriate.
The PS3 launch is now over, but this Sunday the competing Nintendo Wii will hit stores across North America. Some of the pressure should be lightened as Nintendo is expected to ship more units than Sony did. Either way, this weekend will be very memorable for the thousands of gamers involved in these events.