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PS3 pre-order procession (East coast edition)
The line to fork over $100 to reserve a Playstation 3 started at 6 a.m. at the Gamestop on Route 1 in Laurel, MD. Mike (the red-shirted gentleman in the picture above, who refused to give a last name) lined up at the early hour to ensure he got a system for himself and said he planned to go to another local store to reserve a system "for eBay." By 9 a.m. the line had grown to the seven hearty souls above, who still had an hour to wait before the store would open and take their money.
PS3 pre-order procession (West coast edition)
Continuing our Joystiq World Team PS3 Launch Pre-order Coverage, I headed to San Francisco's Mission district and its EB Games. I usually think of suburban malls as game-store habitat, but this EB Games is nestled in a busy neighborhood of taquerias, thrift stores, clubs, and bars. The line of about thirty passed a few shops, including a boot store, terminating in front of a seafood market. (My favorite part of this fish store is the laminated dive-cards in the window, identifying how the fish would look if encountered underwater.) As I was shooting photos, a man in a white jumpsuit -- maybe on his way to repair a refrigerator -- stopped next to me. He asked, "What are they waiting for?""PlayStation 3," I said."Why?" he replied and kept walking.
EB-Gamestop launches download service, "largely garbage" declares 1UP
EB Games and Gamestop have launched a download service, staking claim in the growing industry trend to distribute content digitally. If you're familiar with the conglomerate retailer's websites, the setup is straightforward, giving browsers near-instant access to over 1,000 PC titles; though it's a collection that has been criticized by 1UP as being "largely garbage." We're also concerned about prices. The games range from $9.99 to $49.99, but, for example, Texas Hold 'Em and Zuma, which are featured on the Gamestop (pictured) and EB pages, both retail for $19.99, whereas XBLA versions of the same games retail for just $10. Still, as 1UP points out, there are a few gems to be unearthed from the trash heap (e.g., 1942, Civilization III, Deus Ex, & Heroes of Might and Magic). Unfortunately, the sites lack a satisfying interface for sorting out these favorites from the rubbish. Looks like an act of desperation to us. This service needs a makeover and more reasons for us to check it out. Anyone cashed in on a game yet? How are the download speeds? [Via 1UP] Shop - Gamestop Shop - EB Games
Observational standpoint: PS3 preordering
All right, I admit it. I may be a Wii fanboy, but that doesn't mean I can't preorder a Playstation 3 and attempt to resell it for twice its value on eBay enjoy other consoles too. As such, I took a little trip down to my local mall (which has both a Gamestop and an EB Games) to see if I couldn't pick up a preorder for that bullet train of a console, the PS3, for pickup on November 17th. I arrived ninety minutes early, got to the front of EB Games ... ouch. Fifteen or more in line. I quickly bolted (provoking the ire of a security guard) to the Gamestop, where only eight or nine waited in line. I decided to throw my chips in with them.The Gamestop employee arrived about thirty minutes before opening. He actually admitted the first two people in line several minutes later, and presold them PS3s. He then came out to the line and said that his store had only been allocated two measly units. While I later found out that the EB Games had twelve units allocated, it was far too late for me. And to think, I could have slept in.Where does this leave us Wii-goers? Well, we know that Nintendo will have a hell of a lot more units at launch than the PS3, but this by no means guarantees you a unit. EB/GS preorders open this week, and if you want to ensure your spot in line, you'd best get there early. Use your best judgement, but the earlier, the better ... besides, chances are that a few people in line will be rocking the DS. Multiplayer action FTW.May the Force be with you!
EB/GameStop PS3 pre-order bonanza
If hadn't already heard, today's the day to get on with your PS3 pre-order badself at your local EB Games or GameStop location. That is, if you haven't already done your pre-order somewhere else, or haven't decided to forgo the PS3 entirely for that attractive "Wii60" alternative. Unfortunately, the console looks to be in quite limited supply, so you had best get over there on the double if you don't want to be playing with your sister's Barbie dolls come this November. Reports vary, but from the sound of things, most stores are getting 16 units, with 2 of those available to store employees, which should give a pretty good indication of the scarcity of the PS3 headed into the holidays -- GameSpot and EB can't even guarantee those numbers to pre-order customers, who will be required to put down a $100 for this quasi-assurance. Oh well, you and your sister can always "B who U wanna B" this fall while you wait for those elusive blue lasers to stockpile.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
PS3 pre-orders open tomorrow at EB Gamestop
And they'll likely close 10 seconds after. In what is sure to result in a pulsating mass of pushy gamers waving their hundred dollar bills in the air, PS3 pre-orders are opening at Gamestop and EB Games stores tomorrow. According to an e-mail sent to online customers, Tuesday, October 10 will be the supply and demand doomsday that has been anticipated and dreaded by countless gamers across the world -- Europe excluded, of course (not that they mind).The message goes to great lengths (it has bolded text) to point out that supplies are "extremely limited" and that you'll have to part with $100 in cash, credit or trade in order to secure your PS3. And by "secure," we mean "a reservation deposit does not guarantee receipt of a system available to purchase at launch." The full e-mail text: "GameStop and EB Games will begin accepting limited pre-orders for the PlayStation 3 console on Tuesday, October 10, on a first come, first served basis. Due to extremely limited supply, we expect to deplete this allocation very quickly, most likely in minutes. We will not accept additional pre-orders at this time. To avoid an unnecessary trip we strongly recommend you call your local store to determine availability. A $100 reservation deposit is required, which can be funded with cash, credit or trade. As we cannot control production and shipping issues by the manufacturer, a reservation deposit does not guarantee receipt of a system available to purchase at launch. Reservations/Purchases are limited to 1 per household.Our limited online pre-order program will be announced at a later date, after software and accessory availability dates are confirmed. Online product pricing and availability will vary and will be fulfilled independent of store reservations."Good luck.[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]
GameStop has Wii kiosk exclusivity
In what seems like a strange new development in the marketing of the Wii, it's been announced that only GameStop will play home to the Wii kiosks we recently saw. Considering how new and different the Wii is, we'd think Nintendo would want to put it into as many hands as possible. Of course, there's little to stop a store from setting up their own playable units, but if certain rumors are true, we may not be seeing the Wii everywhere this winter after all. The Motley Fool's Rick Munarriz recently offered an interesting perspective on the news -- likely different than what most of us would have thought. Nintendo, they say, will have no trouble selling units, and when they sell out, the fact that GameStop will be the only gig in town if one wants to try it out will turn into good publicity for both companies. In fact, he says, having the Wii there, at GameStop, ready and able, will snag more of the hardcore gamers when they come in to buy other things. Could there be some truth to that, or is it just another case of a non-gamer theorizing in the dark?
Free t-shirt with Vice City pre-order
You probably don't need any more motivation than awesome graphics and gameplay in order to pick up Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Or maybe you do. That's where free t-shirts come in. According to janamil of the PlayStation.com forums, EBGames is offering a free t-shirt for pre-ordering the game. Not too shabby. So, if you've run out of things to wear, head over to GameSpot/EBGames and give them your money. (While you're there, don't forget to ask for a few free demo UMDs that they're sure to be hoarding!)
Castlevania: PoR preorder bonus [update 1]
If you're a Castlevania fan, then it tends to follow that you dig the music from the series as well, and Konami knows it. If you preorder the newest installment, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, from EB Games or GameStop, they'll throw in a bonus disc, the Castlevania 20th anniversary soundtrack -- a compilation of the best the franchise has to offer, musically. No word on a track listing, but the anticipation is half the fun. Tragically, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin doesn't release until December. In the meantime, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow was re-released this month, so fresh copies are available at many stores. If you can't wait to get your whip on in PoR and missed DoS (shame on you), snag one while you can. [Via NeoGAF][Update 1: Fixed a typo]
EB/GameStop hates Hawaiians, not everyone
Over the weekend, the Internet was all abuzz with the latest outrageous rumor -- that EB Games and GameStop wouldn't take money for Wii preorders, but instead were only accepting $50 worth of trade-in goods. Not your old credit either; the trades had to be made on the spot for credit toward a Wii (or, if that's your fancy, a PS3). But it turns out that the doomsayers jumped the gun. While the program does seem to be for real, it only applies to certain stores in Hawaii and Guam, not to every EB Games or GameStop around. This may be the first time we're glad we don't live in Hawaii. However, none of the stores we called were yet taking preorders at all, at least, not on the system itself. If the test goes well in Hawaii (oh, that's likely), then this may be the future of console preorders, but we wouldn't toss out those credit cards just yet.[Via Joystiq and various tipsters!]
Rumor: Your money is no good for GameStop reservation [update 1]
NeoGAF points us to a clearer version of a blurry poster floating around the net regarding pre-orders at GameStop/EBGames for the Wii and PlayStation 3 purportedly starting this Monday, September 18. The catch? Well, the catch is that "cash and store credit will not be accepted." The only way to make the reservation is to trade in $50 worth of used games -- which inevitably ends up being a real life version of Deal or No Deal at the register -- and will actually end up costing you $150 to $250 worth of games.After calling six different GameStop stores in six different states, nobody knew or could confirm the poster. The best information we got was from a Manhattan store which said, "We can't release that information."The super fine print at the bottom allegedly says: "All trades must be in working condition and are subject to manager approval. As GameStop cannot control production and shipping issues by the manufacturer, the reservation deposit will only guarantee a spot in line when the PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii becomes available. The reservation deposit does not guarantee receipt of a system available to purchase by Christmas."We've contacted GameStop corporate and will let you know what we hear.[Update 1: According to reports from Go Nintendo and Gamers Reports, the program is indeed true for stores in Hawaii and Guam. The program is purportedly being tested before a possible expansion into other territories. We're still awaiting an official response from GameStop corporate.]See Also:Circuit City offers to set-up Xbox 360 backward compatibility[Thank you to all those that sent this in]
Wii accessories list, courtesy of Gamestop [Update 1]
EB Games/Gamestop/EB Gamestop or whatever they're called these days occasionally gets some inside information before the press. (I say occasionally; please hold off on the "my local EB Games employee told you the Wii was coming out December 17th" tips.) A quick search of Gamestop's online store in the accessories section yields some interesting results, shows as follows:Wii Controller Glove 9.99 Wii G-Pak Travel Case 29.99 Wii Game Wallet 9.99 Wii HD Premium Component Cable 59.99 Wii Memory SD 1.0GB 59.99 Wii Memory SD 512MB 39.99 Wii S-Video Premium AV Cable 39.99 Wii Sling Bag 29.99 Wii Storage & Protection 1.0GB Kit 69.99We knew about the Power Glove, but the SD cards just seem like a convenient excuse for Gamestop to take people's money; the prices are quite high. The premium component cable is insanely expensive, but hey, it's premium. Other than that, your classic game-toting sling-bag take-it-anywhere-but-not-really-because-no-one-ever-does-that accessories are on the list. With the immediate need for extra controllers, memory, and games at launch, is anyone going to pick up any of these other things?[Thanks, Randy!][Update 1: Clarified that the SD cards are not officially from Nintendo, and realized that you can in fact get SD cards for far cheaper.]
Wii kiosks are for reals!
As is shown in this video, the leaked pictures of Wii kiosks are actually real. "For really real?" you ask. "Why yes son, as real as anything real in this world. As real as leprechauns, unicorns, and the ever-elusive Yeti, or his North American cousin, the Sasquatch," we replied. We then noticed there wasn't anyone else in the room.We'd also been narrating to ourselves.[Via Wii UK]
GameCube price drop: Nintendo preps retailer [update 1]
GameSpot reports that a GameCube price drop could be in the works. According to an EB Games employee, Nintendo has sent posters that include blank, GameCube-branded "New Low Price" stickers to the retailer. The posters are to be used within the next marketing period (May 1–23) in the event of a price change. The employee confirmed that Sony sent similar materials prior to the PS2 price drop last month.The GameCube currently retails for $99.99. We suspect that by the end of the month that price could fall to $79.99.[Update: changed "GameStop" to "GameSpot"]
SOCOM PS2 & PSP sequels lay in wait
Sony is looking to cash in, at least one more time on its current-gen console, with another SOCOM sequel, accompanied by a Fireteam Bravo sequel for the PSP. The formula has proved to be successful four times — 3 titles for PS2, 1 for PSP — in less than four years, which suggests that squeezing in another set of entries before the PS3 debut would be a smart move.According to an EB Games listing, which has since been pulled, SOCOM US Navy Seals Combined Assault (PS2) and SOCOM US Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo 2 (PSP) are headed to their respective platforms later this year. While we all know that trusting an EB listing is dangerous, especially one that was obviously premature, the details that were posted on the page (reproduced by PSPCave) were too exact to be mere predictions. Expect an official announcement at E3.[Thanks Mark]
