PS3 crime spree!

We you know y'all want your damn PlayStation 3, but really, violence isn't the answer. Unless it's virtual violence, but no one's set up a multiplayer match where the winner lands a PS3, or unlocked the Hot Coffee 2 mod that enables you to drive-by people standing in lines. But we have had eye-witness reports of depraved gamer violence; our own Boy Genius let us know he personally witnessed what came "close to a riot" at his local Circuit City. Waseem from Michigan told us how his local Best Buy kicked everyone out of line at 2.30AM this morning in the 30-degree weather, just to have people converge and duke it out for their same spot at 8:00AM. Like, literally fight. Seriously everybody, keep it clean, keep it real. It's just a damned video game console.

P.S. -If you've seen any more incidents in the news or in person, please let us know!

Update: We take it back, you want to be violent about the PS3? We've got a target for you: none other than former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards. First his son makes fun of other, less privileged children for buying their shoes at Wal-Mart (god forbid!), but then he has his aide call their local Wally and ask to cut in line to be assured a PS3. (Seriously, he's not in office anymore, why the hell does he even need an aide?) Turning lemons into lemonade, Wal-Mart has issued a press release both praising Edwards' selection for a retailer, and chiding his selfishness: "... and while the rest of America's working families are waiting patiently in line, Senator Edwards wants to cut to the front. While, we cannot guarantee that Sen. Edwards will be among one of the first to obtain a PlayStation3, we are certain Sen. Edwards will be able to find great gifts for everyone on his Christmas list..." There, you want someone to riot on? You've got your man.

Update 2: Although we're still not sure why Edwards is going around telling stories about making fun of people's shoes, it's only fair to cover his version of this whole Wal-Mart brouhaha. According the former Senator, one of his volunteers did indeed try to grease the wheels and butt in front of the proverbial PS3 line, but the "young kid" in question was not acting under orders and apparently just name-dropped Edwards in order to secure a console for himself. Edwards went on to say that the volunteer "feels terrible" about what he did (does he really? or does he just feel bad because he got caught?), although he didn't pass up a chance to chide the 'Mart on its press release, arguing that the company is trying to "divert attention from its own problems." Point being, Edwards is not a shady character -- he just hires shady people.

Read - Gunmen rob California store of PS3s in the nerdiest heist ever (ok, maybe the second nerdiest ever).
Read - 10 to 12 people robbed in PS3 line (dubious, but possible). [Via Digg]
Read - Sheriffs shut down another California store for rowdy behavior.
Read - Police break up NY SonyStyle store fight.
Read - Brawl breaks out at another Wally when manager plays musical PlayStation chairs. Seriously, what an idiot. [Thanks Kyle D.]
Read - Shots were apparently fired at a Texas Wally. Pics here and here of the 5-0. [Thanks, Jason]
Read - Two armed, masked robbers overtook a customer in Springfield. [Thanks, Jason]
Watch - North Fresno / Merced had stampede-riot insanity. [Thanks, Jonathan]

[Metasheep @ Nov 16th 2006 11:25PM]

Quote from the first article:
"Sony will be releasing only 400 PS3s throughout the United States tomorrow. On eBay the resale value of the PS3 has already rose to $2,000."

[Xavier @ Nov 16th 2006 11:25PM]

Yea, you can sure trust a site that says Sony will only be releasing 400 PS3 consoles in the US tomorrow...

[chenry @ Nov 16th 2006 11:39PM]

lol! 400 PS3s? Someone dropped a few zeros on the way to the editor's office.

[Joe C @ Nov 16th 2006 11:44PM]

Its a video game system, does any one have any patience any more? Picking mine up when I don't need to fight off a mob to get one. I don't know what is more stupid waiting in line for a PS3 for a few days or paying $2000 for one?

[Chris @ Nov 16th 2006 11:46PM]

I would be fighting over my place in line, too. I just saw one idiot buy a pre-ordered 60GB PS3 for freakin' $4,050! Damn, I wish I had a pre-order just to sell the thing.

[irdepesca @ Nov 16th 2006 11:49PM]

It's gonna be all over the news tomorrow.

[Darius @ Nov 16th 2006 11:53PM]

I was almost involved in a fight this morning. There were several conflicting instructions on how to line up at Best Buy, and then it got bad enough at Target that security put everyone's names into a hat and drew for line positions. My buddy got 1st, I got 16th and left for the warmth of my dorm room. I strongly doubt any Target will be getting 16 units. Good luck and here's to hoping no one gets shot or freezes to death tonight!

Cheers,
Jarrod

[Matt @ Nov 16th 2006 11:53PM]

7 more min til the ps3 is out in my timezone!!! its 1153 now

[josh @ Nov 17th 2006 12:00AM]

its a little more than jsut a PS3, for some people its going to be about 2k in profit. thats alot of money people. for one guy on my floor he is paying floor mates 200 bucks a head just to hang out in line with him and buy a ps3 with his money so he can sell it. he is currently looking at making over 8k for just sitting outside doing nothing then ebaying. i can see why someone would be pisssed.

[Matt @ Nov 17th 2006 12:00AM]

the ps3 is now out!

[Julian Johnson @ Nov 17th 2006 9:48AM]

this whole ps3 deal is fuckin bullshit. Think about it, ppl. are ready to kill someone over a GAME CONSOLE. Geez do any of these ppl. have lives. I heard someone broke off their engagement for FRICKIN PS3. I wanna know since when have video games been more important than p***y?!?!?!

[Jypson @ Nov 17th 2006 12:06AM]

The press release from Walmart is unbelievable. What an A55.

[todd @ Nov 17th 2006 12:13AM]

Dude, I've had mine for a week 11/9 PS3 that is and have yet to open the box, it came with 4 games. What a courtesy. I'm just a nobody with a few strings. A guy like edwards son should have more than this. Whose rich now BEaTch???

[DELINQ @ Nov 17th 2006 12:15AM]

"Unbelieveable" is right - That press release reads really fake.

[Jelement @ Nov 17th 2006 12:29AM]

Found this article, the Wal-Mart/Edwards story is actually NOT fake

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061116/wal_mart_edwards.html?.v=4

[John from Buffalo @ Nov 17th 2006 12:27AM]

If I had been stupid enough to drop $600 bills on the PS3 (waste of money), I would have flipped it for 12 Filipino hours of body mathage. MUCH more satisfin' than waitin in line in the rain for two days, possibly getting crack-head robbed, and then playing HD crack-head games. Fsck Sony. WTF do they think they are doing selling a $600 con(soul) sucking money scheme shit?! Crack-heads...

[Greeze @ Nov 17th 2006 12:49AM]

According to that article, the volunteer staffer took it upon himself to pick up a PS3 without first getting Edwards' permission. Seriously, of all the places Edwards could send an aide to pick up a PS3, why in the hell would he send one to Walmart, a company that he has been an outspoken critic of? Whatever you may think of Edwards, he's not that dumb.

Walmart, however, is NOT above mischaracterizing and demonizing their critics. And since when has Walmart been a champion for the working family? Duh?

[DELINQ @ Nov 17th 2006 12:53AM]

Thanks Jelement- I was doubtful that a retailer would release such a catty sounding story; the article you linked provided great context.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 17th 2006 12:30AM]

It was calm and orderly at the local stores here...nothing major except the PS3!

[Justin @ Nov 17th 2006 1:19PM]

"Found this article, the Wal-Mart/Edwards story is actually NOT fake"

If by "NOT fake" you mean that the details are ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT than what the original story in the post (and the Walmart press release) implies than yes - the story is true. Read the linked story and you'll see that "a volunteer" called and lied that he was calling "on behalf" of the former Senator.

[Christian @ Nov 17th 2006 1:02AM]

Damn, and I thought my November 18 Wii heist would go off without a hitch ;-)

[christine @ Nov 17th 2006 12:52AM]

why is the elk grove story nerdy? just askin'...

[Jelement @ Nov 17th 2006 12:56AM]

Agreed, Wal-Mart did take it upon themselves to rip Edwards a bit more than his version of it seems to merit.

And as to the Elk Grove question, while not nerdy really...as someone who just moved out of that area couple months ago, it doesn't shock me at all that soemone robbed a Gamestop there.

[F13ND @ Nov 17th 2006 1:03AM]

My buddy was at target and everyone in line was held at gunpoint and told to let some guys cut to the front of the line

[V.I. @ Nov 17th 2006 12:55AM]

The news in Chicago aired that a Circuit City in Schaumburg had 400 of em. YEAH RIGHT!!! I don't believe that for jack shi~

[christine @ Nov 17th 2006 1:08AM]

true that. elk grove has become a cesspool!!

[Eric @ Nov 17th 2006 1:01AM]

Stick to electronics, Block. Your rant about Edwards is inaccurate and misdirected. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/16/D8LEJIOO0.html

[Pete @ Nov 17th 2006 1:03AM]

Know what, you worship at the church of tardism if you are camping out for this thing or on the verge of pulling your hair our. Why you say here' the short short to the point list of why.

1.You stand in line for a week. What job do you have that your willing to waste your vacation time waiting in line for a video game? At least lets hope you have a job. I mean the thing is going to cost you 599US dollars before tax. I have to tell ya I wouldn't spend my vacation camping out for anything but a chance to latch onto one of Beyonce's fine legs.

2.Unless you are in the South/Southwest you are taking a chance on frigid sore ass disease. It's a video game system people. There will be more eventually and those may even be free of potential defects. But hey anybody that is willing to shell that out to play games isn't exactly unfamiliar to dropped soap.

3.It's a game system guys we all like em but cmon tomorrow the 3rd world will be the 3rd world, Bush will be a complete idiot and theChina will still lead the world econ in farmed wow gold and wanting to shove nukes straight up our bums.

[america's families @ Nov 17th 2006 1:12AM]

I personally could care less that Edwards' kid has priveledges above and beyond the rest of us, that's what ya get for having family with a powerful name. Celebreties all over this nation get bogus priveledges that are way more ridulous than a lousy PS3. So, so what. All the big gadget blogs got advance or debug PS3's just so you all could write little stories and facts about them a few weeks in advance. How is that any different? You could say, "hey, its not fare that that kid edwards is getting one before me, why can't that bastard wait like the rest of us" when, I turn around and say, "why don't all the bloggers wait and report on the system when it actually comes out?" why don't we all wait? then these pathetic fights and pseudo-riots wouldn't be happening.

Anyway, i'm just ranting and think that its bogus and stupid to post an "update" that we should riot on Edwards' kid because he got a PS3 when the rest of america's working class is waiting in line...especially since it's the people who aren't working who are waiting in line. those that can't take off work, can't wait in line. One more thing, half the stories i've read online the past couple of days about these so called "america's working families" who are waiting inline for the PS3 are just doing so so that they can go sell it on ebay so make a profit. Hard working americans indeed.

It all sucks in my opinion. this entire launch is pathetic and disgusting...from at least what i read online ;)

[Dave @ Nov 17th 2006 1:23AM]

Senator Edwards has AIDS?

[Billy @ Nov 17th 2006 1:41AM]

People are SO STUPID. It really irritates me. The PS3 is a joke, F Sony in the A, seriously.

[Henry @ Nov 17th 2006 2:06AM]

We (at the East Colonial Walmart, the store that had 162 units) had a guy somehow steal the last 60GB ticket even though he had JUST showed up. We harassed him until he ran across the parking lot. Then the General Manager and 2 security guards chased him down and took it away from him.

[James @ Nov 17th 2006 2:17AM]

I think every store should have had a raffle to get the PS3s. They will eliminate all the campers as it's no longer to be first to get an opportunity to get a PS3. This will also eliminate a lot of resellers.

[Fruition @ Nov 17th 2006 2:26AM]

I've been a Playstation fan since the original Playstation (we called it PSX back in the day!). So while I'm inclined to want to see Sony's console do really well, $600 is a lot of money. I could sooner see myself buying one of nVIDIA's new 8800 GTX graphics cards than a PS3.

I do intend to, at some point, buy a PS3, but it will likely be six months to a year from now when they're easier to come by and perhaps less expensive.

[Eixud @ Nov 17th 2006 2:54AM]

Here is the reason people camped out

http://cgi.ebay.com/Playstation-3-PS3-60GB-Free-Overnight-Shipping-Blu-ray_W0QQitemZ150059269467QQihZ005QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[mark @ Nov 17th 2006 3:21AM]

What is it with these dickless idiots that they have to be the first on their block with every new piece of crap that comes out. People all over the world homeless and starving and these morons are fighting about a freaking game console. God help us if these asswipes are our future "leaders"

[Aaron @ Nov 17th 2006 3:51AM]

Engadget, make another "update" to your story. Edwards did not have his aide call Wal Mart, the aide did that all on his own. From what I've seen, Edwards is a decent guy, so don't write stuff based on statements from f-ing Wal Mart.

[Jonathan Thornton @ Nov 17th 2006 6:41AM]

wooo hoo!!! my video made it!!! check it out yall!!! riot in merced fresno!

[Jay @ Nov 17th 2006 4:30AM]

I already thought this would happen. Not to be a flamer, but most playstation owners are thugs, and gangsters. You can blame it on GTA but thats no the case, it was the best platform for it's time, and everyone has a ps2.

[Pal @ Nov 17th 2006 5:24AM]

This kind of reinforces the stereotype that video gamers create violent people.

...Of course, that's not true. Japan had far less units to go around, and far less violence. What the hell is wrong with us Americans?

The right to bear arms was a mistake indeed. Everyone will now arm themselves when they wait in line for the PlaySation 4 so that they can shoot the robber before the robber shoots them - all for a video game console.

But, as many sites have reported, the amount of violence isn't direct related to games. It's about the money they can make and the will to not go home empty handed, wasting hours of their lives. Oh Sony...you should have delayed the launch to make a $600 system worth $600.

[andy @ Nov 17th 2006 10:50AM]

If you were in line being robbed by some jackass, I'd doubt you'd feel the same about upstanding citizens that exercise their inalienable right to keep and bear arms.

[Brendan @ Nov 17th 2006 7:45AM]

I think Connecticut just took the cake:

http://wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5696085 ...no BB guns here.

[Walt @ Nov 17th 2006 8:58AM]

I'd be great if political and former political wannabes actually took responsibility for their assistants' actions rather than just describing them as misguided but overzealous. I find it likely that Edwards did not direct his aid to go to WalMart for a PS3... but I also find it extremely likely that he told he aid to go out and get him a PS3.

This aid is a designee of Mr Edwards and identified himself as such. It was confirmed by the store. This is a legitimate story about someone who as a Democrat claims to be more empathetic to everyday people, and yet will use privilege to step ahead of others.

Mr Edwards, you have many millions. Buy your PS3 on eBay if you don't want to wait.

[JS @ Nov 17th 2006 9:03AM]

IMHO, I think there's a conflict of interest if Engadget is reporting the Edwards story with a Walmart slant and accepting money from Walmart for banner ads.

[Ryan @ Nov 17th 2006 10:38AM]

Getting a little lazy, Engadget? Why would Edwards send a staffer to get a PS3 for his kids to Wal-Mart? Why not Best Buy, or Target, or wherever?

He's not that stupid. The story doesn't make sense.

Plus, Wal-Mart's PR guy is a dick. Wal-Mart is a big reason many working families in America are living in poverty with low wages and no health care.

[KerryB @ Nov 17th 2006 11:47AM]

That's true, it'd be much better for a robbery to turn into a shooting war with hundreds of innocent people nearby.

Guns aren't a deterrent, they're a response. Come out and say "I want to kill anyone who fucks with me." At least you'd be honest with yourself and everyone else. The logic that if everyone had guns we'd all be safe is a complete fantasy. People would be getting shot all the fucking time. Human beings aren't mature enough to handle that responsibility.

Case in point, rioting and violence over a VIDEO GAME CONSOLE. Your dream world probably seems pretty nice to you, but we don't live in it.

[Clay Johnson @ Nov 17th 2006 5:38PM]

Edwards' son did not "make fun" of other less fortunate kids for buying their shoes from Wal-Mart. I was on that call-- it was for an organization called "Wake Up Walmart" (http://www.wakeupwalmart.com) with Barack Obama and John Edwards. Quite simply, Walmart is the largest employer in the United States and some people believe that they're creating a lot of cost to their communities by not providing healthcare to their employees and destroying local businesses.

This wasn't the case of a son being an elitist at his local public school. This was a case of his son repeating the words of his father: "Don't buy stuff from wal-mart until they start treating their employees right"

There's a strong difference. You guys ought to correct the tone in your post.

[Ken @ Nov 17th 2006 11:30AM]

Man shot in line while refusing to give up to a mugger.

http://www.wfsb.com/news/10343744/detail.html

[KerryB @ Nov 17th 2006 11:53AM]

Interesting, they didn't even want a PS3, just some normal thugs figuring those waiting in line might have a stack of cash.

I have minimal sympathy for violent criminals, but at the same time, here's a tip on how not to get shot : When someone with a gun demands your [money/valuables/etc], GIVE IT TO THEM, for fck's sake.

[andy @ Nov 17th 2006 12:51PM]

This had nothing to do with a video game console. This was some thug (who probably possesses a gun in violation of existing gun control laws) who decided to rob people that he thought would not be armed.

How many times have you heard of someone trying to rob people at an NRA event? Guns are a deterrent and a response to violent crime.

Someone already hit the nail on the head. You can't get rid of ALL guns and laws only make sure that law-abiding citizens are unarmed. Criminals by definition don't care what the law says.

In your world, everyone follows gun control laws, right? Then why do we have people in prison for committing crimes with guns that they're not legally allowed to own?

You trust criminals more than law-abiding citizens. You're pathetic.