Is a PS3 shortage in the offing?

Online retailer GameStop.com unveiled its in-store PlayStation 3 preorder campaign to GameSpot, and looks to be bracing for a shortage of systems on launch day.

Starting Tuesday morning, GameStop and EBGames stores will begin accepting "limited" preorders for the system with a $100 deposit. Per-store allotments for preorders are relatively small, and customers will not be guaranteed a PS3 on Nov. 17, when the system is scheduled for launch in the U.S.

"Most stores will receive a preorder allocation of eight units, while a few select stores will receive 16," a GamesStop official said. "In either case, employee purchases will be restricted to a total of no more than two systems per store."

The $100 deposit can be paid in cash, or via credit card or credit for a trade-in. Last month, the company conducted a test run of preorders for Nintendo's Wii and the PS3 at its Hawaii stores. In that one-day campaign, the company required that customers pay a $50 deposit with trade-in credit.

Reservations for the retailer's in-store program will be limited to one per household. The company's online preorder program will be revealed at a later date, the GameStop official said, "after software and accessory availability dates are confirmed."

Brendan Sinclair reported for GameSpot.

[KsprayDad]

Why is this even a question?

Sony announced over a month ago what number of systems would be available in North America on launch. Now you 'think' there might be shortages?

It's hard to come up with antiSONY stories everyday isn't it.

Why not just say 'PS3 limited pre-orders now available' or would that be too positive?

[FormerPCwonk]

Your paranoia is disturbing.

Anti-Sony? Please. CNET reported in a similar fashion on the 360.
Besides, if you had actually thought for a momoent, you'd notice
that by the time the story was posted (818 pacific time), the east
coast and central pre-orders were already gone, and if you weren't
already in line in the Mountain and West time zones, you were too
late. So the best they could have done was "PS3 pre-orders were
available."

[Ikthog]

Get with the times, man.

Haven't you heard? Bashing Sony is the cool, l33t thing to do! Just check out the forums of any game news site and you're learn all about Sony's unbelievable arrogance, epic stupidity and why gam3rd00d27 will NOT be buying a PS3. Cnet-owned GameSpot can't publish a Sony story without an outrageous headline, and they're the reasonable ones. It's much more fun to turn the next console generation into a political mudslinging contest than to just report the news. Have to keep the fanboys and haters fired up!

[Ryo Hazuki]

Because it's possible it will happen

Sony announced over a month ago what number of systems would be abailable in North America on launch, they didn't say there were going to be shortages. Now, given Sony's rush to catch up with Microsoft, any intelligent person would think there might be shortages.

I don't know how hard it is to come up with antiSony stories everyday but I think one doesn't even have to come up with one given all the mess Sony is doing with the PS3 and besides, it's certainly not easier than to come up with an antiMICROSOFT story.

As someone already said, they don't say 'PS3 limited pre-orders now available' because that would be false as there were no more pre-orders available anymore by the time this news was published so no, that wouldn't be too pisitve, that woudl be "too false".

[Ryo Hazuki]

Because it's possible it will happen

Sony announced over a month ago what number of systems would be abailable in North America on launch, they didn't say there were going to be shortages. Now, given Sony's rush to catch up with Microsoft, any intelligent person would think there might be shortages.

I don't know how hard it is to come up with antiSony stories everyday but I think one doesn't even have to come up with one given all the mess Sony is doing with the PS3 and besides, it's certainly not easier than to come up with an antiMICROSOFT story.

As someone already said, they don't say 'PS3 limited pre-orders now available' because that would be false as there were no more pre-orders available anymore by the time this news was published so no, that wouldn't be too pisitve, that woudl be "too false".

[Ryo Hazuki]

Because it's not a certainty

Sony announced over a month ago what number of systems would be abailable in North America on launch, they didn't say there were going to be shortages. Now, given Sony's rush to catch up with Microsoft, any intelligent person would think there might be shortages.

I don't know how hard it is to come up with antiSony stories everyday but I think one doesn't even have to come up with one given all the mess Sony is doing with the PS3 and besides, it's certainly not easier than to come up with an antiMICROSOFT story.

As someone already said, they don't say 'PS3 limited pre-orders now available' because that would be false as there were no more pre-orders available anymore by the time this news was published so no, that wouldn't be too pisitve, that woudl be "too false".

[cnutsucks]

Shortage during holidays? Nah....

More quality CNUT "reporting" on the obvious. When
http://www.teckmagazine.com/content/view/690/43/
was the last time a shortage DIDN'T occur for a highly anticipated electronic device before the holidays? Could this article be any more obvious?

[jwissing]

LOL

It is funny that all of the anti-microsoft and sony lovers slamed the xbox360 for a launch shortage while shouting from the rooftops that this would never happen to the PS3. HAHA

[wfseube]

XBox 360 redux

The PS3 will see the same behavior as the XBox 360 when it hits - a big rush by the hardcore gamers in the first few weeks, then a drastic dropoff. The 80% of the gaming market that is mainstream will hold off due to the obscene pricing and will likely become Wii / Nintendo-ites (and it may even push up XBox 360 sales)

Sony will once again cut their throats by their fetish for oddball hardware pseudo-standards. Another casualty along with Beta, Memory Sticks, UMD, etc...

[Hardrada]

Quite

It seems to me Sony cannot demonstrate they learn anything form history.

Perhaps they saw their 3.5 floppy and PlayStation model as the omen in becoming the permanent success story they think they are.

We should all face it, Son'y living off it's brand reputation at the moment.

[Hardrada]

Quite

It seems to me Sony cannot demonstrate they learn anything form history.

Perhaps they saw their 3.5 floppy and PlayStation model as the omen in becoming the permanent success story they think they are.

We should all face it, Sony's living off it's brand reputation at the moment.

[umbrae]

Which means...

Stores will probably get like 4; IF they have not already sold those to employees like happen with the 360.

[amigabill]

I don't believe it

What? That's crazy talk. I don't believe any company that size would allow a shortage of product at launch of such a game machine. They know lots and lots of people want one, and are willing to pay the high price for it. How could they ever fail to deliver?

Ah, isn't sarcasm fun? When was the last new console launch not in short supply? Is anyone suprised at this at all? Did anyone actually bet against a shortage? How stupid would that be?

[airwalkery2k]

Wii!

Yep. But considering the EXTENT of the shortage, this is comlpetely news-worthy.

How about the Wii? A friend in charge of the Electronic's stockroom at a local Target told me they already have 75 Wii's in the storage room (this be a Sony fanboy, mind you), just waiting to be cracked open come opening day.

[mssoot]

XBOX 360 Holliday orders now available

What this all really means is you wont be able to get a Xbox 360 around christmas time because shortages in the PS3 and Wi will push demand for the consoles left I.E. 360. You watch, around christmas time in this economy thats all that will be available in short supply. Put your orders in now for the holiday season!

[CA1900]

Sony's Quality Control

Why would I even bother? With the past couple years of just deplorable manufacturing quality, putting rootkits on music CDs, clinging to proprietary storage formats, etc., where's the attraction?

The last Sony product in my house, a battery included in an Apple laptop, was recalled because it could burst into flames.

I wouldn't put a Sony consumer electronic product in my house if it were FREE. That's how bad the company has gotten.

[chrisfrary]

Agreed

The problem is the uninformed --my friends--. I went through this conversation with them last night over a few beers, even with the rootkits, batteries and the damn $500. Mind you, this is even after they were all talking about their 1 or 2 ps2's they had that no longer read discs. It's sad that their money is going to a company that should have failed years ago, which I hope BluRay fails them.

[dahwai]

Is this still considered news?!?

It happended to Microsoft last year, and Sony has aready said that they will only have 400 000 units for the U.S. If you are still crazy enough to want Sony's $600 Betamax box, then you'll be waiting until spring 2007 (also known as the PS3's Europe lauch date)

Wii60 all the way!!!

[aztr]

And Water is Wet

This article wastes bits

[heystoopid]

OMG

OMG, SONY's reputation for production of quality products of any note, evapourated so last century!

For how soon we forget, litany of errrors, mistakes, exploding batteries and other non existent quality control on portable gaming units sold to the public, and it's equally useless UDP's!

Choices, SONY ain't on my christmas shopping list anytime this century!

[joexps]

Sorry no PS3

My kids were crushed when they could not get the 360 after waiting to get one forever. Now it's Sony's turn to play mind games with them. They were crushed again today. I am a parent w/3 boys. I spend more money on my kids then most gamers want to think about. I was looking at Sony 57 hd and Sony dvd surround 7.1. Well Sony sorry I had a brain shortage. I bought a Pionner 1540 hd,denon avr-4306 oh ya 3 laptops for the boys school work not vaio, Dell. I am sick and tired of big company's playing games. It is time I put my money where my mouth is. Add it! Oh, ya! since there are no games that can use the ps3 hardware for at least a year, there will be little difference between the wii/ps2/xbox/360.

[jb4674]

Um, are you serious?

Dude, for someone who thinks of himself as a persona "spends more moeny than a gamer", you really don't know wat you're talking about. The PS3 will be completely backwards compatible with all legacy playstation systems. Do you really think that Sony would release a game console without any games to support it? This is not going to be an xbox.

[Ryo Hazuki]

Sorry, you're wrong there

If you consider there's little difference between wii/ps2/xbox/360 then I garantee you you can put ps3 there too.

[Mmmhmm]

*insert violin music*

I somehow can't feel any sympathy over people who are horribly upset about delays in technology. Boohoo, a form of electronic consumer entertainment was delayed and now I have to go out and spend a truckload of money on something less desireable yet equally frivolous because I have not the patience to realize that gaming consoles, home entertainment systems, and next-gen video players are *not of earth shattering or revolutionizing importance* and have further taught my children to sit on the edge of their seats and lament along with this consumer impatience.

Sorry if that seems harsh, I understand the idea of getting excited about something and having it not happen, especially where kids are involved and if it was just a simple rant then.. well whatever, but the fact that the outraged response involved spending thousands of dollars in some kind of moral protest against Sony.. well.. somehow frivolous consumerism and the 'high moral ground' seem an ironic duo of things to try and combine.

[kuguy3000]

Shortage? BIG SURPRISE!!

My oh my. Is anyone on this planet surprised that there is a *shocK* shortage of PS3 machines? Come on people...

Sony is simply doing what they perfected at the launch of the PS2 -- releasing as few systems as possible, thereby creating artificial hype and (as exampled here) 'free' advertising. Thereby becoming the hottest toy ticket in town... ala Tickle Me Elmo.

Microsoft tried this tactic last year to less then stellar success....although nearly all eyeballs are pointed on Nintendo's Wii... which will (alarmingly) be plentiful when available. It's all about the games...

[ElMartino1]

Nice Interest-collection scam

Promise nothing
collect $100
Earn interest
Deliver nothing

[Stan Johnson]

Sony can't do anything right.

Rootkits, batteries exploding, PS3 late (there has got to be much more too)...it goes on and on.

Sony...what a joke.

[schubb]

Yep

Beta, UMD, Memory Stick, and Mini-Disc to name a few.

Sadly, I have prerecorded mini-disc and a mini-disc recorder at home.

[joexps]

games

We bought 3 games for the PS3 so my kids could get first chance on the sign up list. Eb Games was the proud father of this program, we never got the call or email, sounds like bait and switch. Right now the games coming out for the PS3 will not take advantage of PS3 hardware. Reason, the games would cost about $90.00 to $110.00 for the game designer to profit and all the research say's your average gamer will not spend or can not afford that kind of price. It's all in the research and I am sorry you were offended by my comments, just get the point. Sony knows how much you spend, they know how much I spend, it's all in research. I just choose to spend my money else where from now on. I will not be a limming anymore.

[SleeStaK911]

Best Buy

said they would have 30 or 40 units. GameSTOP said they would only have a handful. Problem solved. Hey - maybe I should start an anti-panic .COM!!!

[Ryo Hazuki]

*Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew*

Wow, 30-40 units, for a moment there I really thought there were going to be shortages! *pheeew*

[Stan Johnson]

Price of games will be a joke too!

Games approaching $100 dollars a game. LOL!

I have read games will cost between $75 and $84 dollars a game in the US. Could be more depending on where you live on planet Earth. Serious cash for a freakin' game. I can't believe ANY idiot who would pay this kind of price.

The question is how stupid can Sony get?

[adamevex]

Actually you're wrong

Games will cost $59.99. People have paid more for SNES (super nintendo) games, around $80 back then. So you need to ask yourself, how much money did Nintendo make back then when they were the only company making from games that didn't cost anywhere near the budgets of games today. Your sources are wrong.

[grog1]

well?

How do you prepare for nothing?

[gravrdr]

I ove reading this stuff

All the mini flames in these pages are sooo entertaining. lol
Fact is some people like one system, some like another. Now eveyone go play nice!

[MacedonianHero]

Go 360!

Don't fret about not being able to get a PS3. Just go to EB games and pick yourself up an Xbox 360. It's just as powerful except for the following advantages:

1.) Xbox Live --> Nothing Sony or Nintendo can do to even come close to this!

2.) The 360 is now going through its second generation games --> Gear of War anyone.

3.) Could you really imagine your gaming life WITHOUT Halo? Come on...really..