PS3 locked and loaded for Oz and Europe launch

In just a few short hours, the PS3 will finally see its European debut. In the usual fashion, the hardcore gaming elite-and-freak are lining up outside stores in a rolling launch hitting Australia first before making its way to Europe. Some lucky Italians have already received theirs as a few retailers have broken the March 23 street date and sold the console early. In London, police have cracked down on midnight openings for fear of repeating the crime infested US launch. A notable exception is the Virgin Megastore on Oxford street which is moving ahead with plans to facilitate a midnight launch by offering a makeshift campsite on its lower floor to keep fans "comfortable and safe." Oh the humanity!

Read -- UK launch parties canceled
Read -- Italy breaks rank
Read -- Virgin Megastore

[jimhuf @ Mar 22nd 2007 7:43AM]

why would you camp out for anything. do their mums know they arnt in the basement?

[Genome @ Mar 24th 2007 7:18AM]

In the UK there are no basements!!!

Less than 10% of homes in the UK have basements, theres a company setup in London for the sole purpose of installing basements, and its damned expensive. Most people just turn their attics into another room.

[Olivier @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:05AM]

ALl the ones who seriously wanted one of these could have pre-ordered them ages ago.
Tomorrow they could just walk in with their order receipt and get their piece of equipment.
But they would rather camp out in freezing temperatures just to be on newspaper's front-pages.

What justifies the urge to stand in the rain long hours for the privilege of giving £425? World Peace? A UNICEF charity? No a video game..

These people need to get a life or some brains.

[aobk84 @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:27AM]

What freezing temperatures? Here in OZ it's autumm and the weather is extremely nice. So for those wanting to go out and feel the fun of it, go ahead! Enjoy and don't listen to those M$ kids.

[jimhuf @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:55AM]

its not warm in newcastle england thats for sure. i suppose you have to remember these people camping out have no life so its like a little adventure for them. i can imagine the awkward moment when all the clubs and pubs shut and the piss heads are walking past this group of nerds hunched over playing psp. its got all the ingredients of a post pub brawl.

[mj @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:58AM]

I tell you what this means: Europe is a bunch of sissies.

[FrankTheCrank @ Mar 22nd 2007 9:33AM]

But the 360 is the coolest, but the 360 is cheaper, but the 360 has more cooler games, but the 360 has Halo and Gears, but the 360 has HD-DVD...but, but, but.

Time to eat M$'s lunch.

[mattclarkie @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:14AM]

UK highstreets don't do pre-orders (mostly). Any pre-order has to be done by the website and delivered, and most highstreet game shops don't take the pre-orders in store because that way they can sell panic bundles on launch day while clever people order it cheaper online, also cheaper for the shop to ship it that way.

[Gaz @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:34AM]

@mattclarkie

That's bollocks, every store I've been into...Game, Woolworths, HMV, Virgin GameStation, even sodding shitty Curry's.Digital have been offering pre orders. So I don't exactly know where your getting that piece of info from. Leave your house once in a while and experience the beautiful colours of the outside world, or at least your local high street once in a while.

[jimhuf @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:23AM]

yeah game even offer double reward points for pre-orders. i think you can even pre-order from tescos. why pre-order when you can walk into town on the weekend and buy one off the shelf. is sony getting an award for first console not to have a sellout launch?

[Dirk Gently @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:38PM]

For those who doubted how much Sony has screwed Australia, check out the launch event numbers. Security and store staff outnumbered the public until forty-five minutes before midnight. The first guy to pick up a PS3 in the Sydney store where the local CEO turned up only arrived for the launch at 9pm. That's what a $1,000 price tag and piss-poor compatibility solution will do for your remaining goodwill Sony. They've boasted 20,000 pre-orders for Australia. Any takers for how quickly they have to drop the price?

http://www.theage.com.au/news/games/playtime-for-midnights-children/2007/03/23/1174153291466.html