PS3 crime spree!
By Ryan Block 
posted November 16th 2006 11:21PM
posted November 16th 2006 11:21PM
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]
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.
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.
The sad thing is that many people have been killed in US cities over things worth much less than a PS3.
Ever wonder what would happen if there was a shortage of something actually necessary to live...like food? This generation is too stupid to see the big picture.
Not to turn this discussion into a gun control debate, but I would be very interested in seeing the gun related crimes stats broken out by areas that allow open carry, concealed carry or no carry. How likely do you think it would be for a mugger to approach a line of armed people vs. one in which no one was armed?
Sadly KerryB you are right that by and large humans are not up to the challenge of being armed, but until you can get rid of ALL guns, those of us who intend to use them to protect ourselves and others must be allowed to keep them.
You pretty much nail the issue Thoth.
The book that does the study is "More Guns, Less Crime". It's written by a former Brady Council (for gun control) board member who switched sides after examining the statistics.
People in general can't be trusted. But disarming the trusworthy people while doing nothing to the untrustworthy doesn't really help any problem, of any kind, in any situation, ever.
As to Pal's statement:
"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."
The robber is not being shot over a video game console. He is being shot for trying to rob someone. Don't blame the response without first examining the cause.
You Tardo's Engadget. The temp did it on his own accord and under no directive from Sen. Edwards, His Wife, or any other family member. Word has it that it was some college kid trying to do a little name dropping to cut the line for himself....not Sen. Edwards.
Way to be sensationalist instead of fact checkers.
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/national/article.aspx?storyid=43876
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3784
Sounds like Edwards is getting his just rewards.
Video games DO incite violence! (At least PS consoles, you never see people getting beaten or trampled for Nintendo's.)
The violence at this event will create one of two solutions:
* Product Releases won't happen like this ever again
* Ebay will stop allowing products released the night before to be sold on Ebay.
I caught it beforehand, but you might want to point out to those of us at work that one of those links goes to playboy.com
Just a thought.
doesnt edwards support wakeupwalmart.com or watever
kind of funny that he was gonna try to get a ps3 from the place he hates so much
Hey, hey, hey, HEY.
North Fresno is NOT Merced.
Merced gets a bad enough rep without adding riots to it... :)
Perry (originally from Merced).
Hey I was on the fresno video, I actually have fotage from in the middle of the riot, if you guys wanted, it might required a little editing though.
Heres an other shooting at a Wal-mart.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/nyregion/18play.html?em&ex=1163998800&en=8d1c63f0780eeb8f&ei=5087%0A