As launches go, the PS3 and Wii launches over the past few days were sort of a yawn, but did provide some entertainment. In connecticut, people standing in line to purchase the PS3 were robbed at gunpoint in two locations. At one of the locations one person was shot. In Boston the Mayor threatened to send a bill for a detail of 15 police officers to one store because they didn’t have a permit to open at mid-night. In checking, I found that the Boston Police charge $60 per hour with a 4 hour minimum…hmmm that’s about $3600 just for starters - ouch!!
Perhaps what drove the nuttiness was Sony indicating that there would only be 400,000 PS3’s available in Japan and North America. That number was further muddied by a few industry analysis guessing the number was closer to 150,000.
The Wii from Nintendo garnered a little less press by not spreading rumors of shortages prior to the holiday shopping season, but after trolling some online stores it seems the availability is somewhat limited. While not sporting the high graphics of Xbox 360 and PS3, Wii will let its users effortlessly play their old library of releases.
To be filed under: Do you really need one that bad?
Of course we can not forget the usual group of opportunist who stood in line, purchased whatever, then put it up for sale on EBay for as much as $3,000.