Despite last night’s torrential rain and flash flooding, dozens of students eager for the release of Sony’s highly-anticipated PlayStation 3 continued to wait in tents outside local shopping centers. But while they had forsaken their homes for days, few were expecting to use the new game console, and instead planned on turning a profit — and making upward of $1,000.
More than a few Binghamton University students had been waiting in line for the new PlayStation 3 since Wednesday morning for the system’s morning debut today.
But with the flooding in the area last night, the tents, under which the buyers were eagerly waiting for their PS3s, were extremely wet.
Circuit City stores were planning on having 100 systems to sell at each store, according to its Web site. But last night, lines were short when employees informed those waiting that there would only be around 15 systems. Circuit City opened their doors two hours early today in order to make room for the commotion surrounding the new system.
“This is the most interesting console release I’ve seen in the history of gaming,” Kevin Pereira, host of G4 Television’s “Attack of the Show,” told Pipe Dream.
Alex Bouganim, a sophomore human development major at BU, was with some friends at Target on Vestal Parkway’s food court taking a short break from the line.
But why was Bouganim willing to risk his place in line to grab a bite to eat? He told Pipe Dream that while on line for one of Target’s PS3s, the crowd developed a bond.
“The line has an understanding. If you have to go into Target to get food or something, that’s OK,” he said.
Food and shelter, however, were not the only necessities these dedicated students have had to manage. “In the torrential downpours, I kind of took my own little bath in the rain,” said BU sophomore Adam Goodman, who had not showered before, but was equipped with deodorant and toothpaste for the long wait.
Vestal Police is prepared to handle any disruptions stemming from the debut. “We’re advising officers to monitor release points in the Vestal area,” said Sergeant Darryl Lindsey of Vestal Police.
Other stores like EB Games and GameStop, both in the Oakdale mall, only had around 15 systems to sell, which were already sold before the launch to customers who made deposits.
Due to production problems, Sony will only have 400,000 systems ready for release before the holiday season in the United States, according to The Associated Press.
As a result, quite a few who stood in line to buy the system this morning were not about to run home, rip it open and plug it in. Many students who purchased the systems, which costs $500 for the standard version and $600 for an expanded one, plan on reselling it on eBay for much more than they paid.
“I’m definitely selling it on eBay,” said Jack Chen, a junior English major, who was waiting in line at Wal-Mart.
On Tuesday night, three days before the launch, one expanded system sold for $1,940 on eBay with 26 bids. Many of those systems being pre-sold online are from people who paid the $100 deposit to their local video game store months ago.
One BU student plans on using the profits for his PS3 for charity. After covering his costs, Michael Latchmansingh, a junior nursing major, will be donating what’s left to Child’s Play, an organization which gives toys and video games to hospitals.
But Chris Lau, a senior math and economics major, was not planning to part with his PS3 any time soon. He’s shelling out for the expanded system and also planned on getting two highly anticipated PS3 games: “Resistance” and “Ridge Racer 7.”
“I saved over the summer,” Lau said. “I pretty much planned the whole thing since last year.”
Right on the coattails of the PS3 launch comes the launch of another new video game system, the Nintendo Wii, which is set for release on Saturday morning. But don’t expect nearly as much trouble getting one.
“We’re expecting 10 times as many of them coming in,” said an anonymous Circuit City employee.
While it appears that PS3 buyers are planning to capitalize, gamers have not dismissed the Wii according to Pereira. “Wii offers a very similar gaming experience to the PS3, but for a fraction of the price,” he said. “Everyone’s looking at ‘Zelda,’ which debuts Saturday,” said Pereira.