Chaos at U.S. PS3 launch

• Saturday November 18, 2006 in: Video Game Consoles Tag(s):

  Technorati Tags: PlayStation 3, video game consoles

  If the chaos that marred the launch of the much-ballyhooed PlayStation 3 in the United States is any indication, then it can be said the PS3's debut here is a smashing success. According to Reuters:

  Thousands camped outside stores on Friday to be among the first U.S. buyers of Sony Corp.'s new PlayStation 3 video game player, but violence marred the debut when one man was shot in a robbery attempt.

  He was one of 15 to 20 people waiting outside a Connecticut Wal-Mart to buy PlayStations at about 3:15 a.m. EST when they were confronted by two armed men who demanded money, police said.

  The man was shot when he refused to give them money. He was in serious condition at a Massachusetts hospital, police said.

  Unruly crowds prompted the closure of two Wal-Mart stores in Palmdale, California, earlier in the week and skirmishes broke out in front of other U.S. stores as nerves wore thin for shoppers, some of whom had camped out for several days.

  The figures aren't in yet, but it's probably safe to bet that the PS3 is going to be sold out.

  Will Nintendo's Wii have the same impact? We'll wait and see, when it launches on Sunday.