Countdown to launch
definatly a sucessful launch in my eyes
It all went well! Us leaving at 9 paid off, I was the first person to get served! :D
We waited outside GAME for about 3 hours. The first two hours no one showed…and i thought “It’s true, Europe doesnt care about the PS3 ;(” but I was wrong. About 45 mins before opening people started flocking in! There must have been at least 70 - 80 people there when they opened the doors. In comparison to the Wii thats, oh, about 3 and a half times more people. The re-opening at 7 also brought about 20 more people in the next two hours.
Luke Enjoying a British cup of tea [Image]
Once they finally opened the doors at 11:30, no one really cared about looking at the deals, they just ran straight for the tills. :P A painful 30 mins pasted as we watched the staff get out our numbered bags with our PS3’s and games inside.
Resistance: Fall of Man Advertisement [Image]
When the time finally came, everything was scaned, i used my reward points to get an extra game and everything was good…until she told me the total. “£137 then please”. I crapped myself, I thought i had miscaluclated meaning i might have to leave Genji behind! However, she had forgotten to take off the £50 deposit. God, did i sweat. xD
I went then went back to mine, set it all up and sustained the horrible wait of downloading and installing the firmware. God, that was torture. >_< I only had a chance to play a little bit of Genji before I had to go to sleep for work the next morning, but it was a good 20 minute play, IMO Genji: Days of the Blade is a very good game from what i’ve seen so far, despite the sometimes annoying camera angle.
But, yeah, overall im pleased with the launch. We had some laughs waiting and talking and best of all, I got my PS3. :P
I’ll be reviewing the games I got (Resistance: Fall of Man, Motorstorm and Genji: Days of the Blade) at a later date.
So off I go to get my Playstation 3
In literally 10 mins im going to be in the car and waiting outside GAME to collect my shiny new PS3, Genji: Days of the Blade, Resistance: Fall of man and Motorstorm, which we will review at a later date.
I’ll be waiting outside from about 9, until 11:30 when they open the doors. I’ll be sure to take alot of pics and stuff of the event, next time I come on this PC i’ll be a proud PS3 owner. xD
Wish me luck, and warmth. x_x
The queing has started already!?
Sony and partnet Virgin Megastores have started up the UK PS3 launch by setting up camp for people already quing outside the shops in Oxford Street! However, a few stores have opted out of the midnight launch in London due to security, however stores in south where I am are still opening at 12, fortunately.
Woolworths Torment [Image]
People queing already makes me think maybe I should be out there xD Tomorrow when I am, we’ll cover the launch complete with our own pics and maybe even videos of us complaining about the cold. :P
As far as I know; GAME is still opening at midnight
There has been some talk around today about UK retailer GAME deciding against their earlier confirmed midnight launch for the Playstation 3. I work at GAME and our branch at least, is still on course for a midnight opening. I called to verfiy and they had assured me that we are defiantly opening at midnight tomorrow.
The plan is; The store opens at 11:30pm Thursday 22nd, customers (who have pre-order only) are allowed in to browse the various PS3 bundle deals until GAME can legally sell the console just after 12 midnight on the 23rd March. At around 1/2am the store will close, and then re-open early in the morning at 7am to continue selling the Playstation3.
I am certain that this at least is what is happening at the Poole, Dorset branch as we called over 100 people at the weekend on sunday to tell them about the midnight launch. And, like i said, i rung up about an hour ago and they told me that its still launching at midnight so until I get told otherwise, GAME in Poole is still opening at midnight for the launch of the glorious Playstation 3. :P
2 days left — reason #2why you should have a ps3
Over remaining 2 days (God, its dragging like hell) we will be giving you 2 more reasons why we think you should invest in a Playstation 3. (At some point or another, though we’re all getting it on launch, right?) These will just be 2 of 7 reasons in no specific order, just 7 basic reasons why we see the Playstation 3 as lick-able.
Free online play
Its obvious from the past that now-a-days, games need good online play to have enough replay value to keep gamers playing it over and over. With Playstation 3, this service comes easy. PlayOnline allows you to, as the name suggests, play online FOR FREE. No hidden charges, no membership fee’s no points. Just literally find your friends via the Playstation network and join, its as simple as that. The PS3 comes with built in Wi-Fi, so theres no need to buy any extra attachments to get the full play out of your game. Another great thing about Playstation online is web browsing, you can search the internet with a web browser like you would on a PC, you can save stuff off the internet directly to your hard drive like with the Playstation Portable. Online also offers a chance to upgrade firmware. This allows new features to be added, edited and fixed, if the case may be. An example of a great firmware upgrade for Playstation 3 is PS2 compatibility. The range of games compatible with the PS3 will be updated regularly to get the full life and potential out of your Playstation 3.
Probably the best thing about online is PlaystationHome. Playstation Home is an online network where users can create a character to how they see fit, and walk around the Playstation Home universe to find their friends, meet new people, join new games and much more. Sony have already implemented an apartment which is your private space (Other users can be invited into it by you) which you can design and modify as you see fit. Sony are thinking of later implementing more things such as Houses, Gardens and even whole Streets.
3 days left — 3rd reason why you should have a ps3
Over remaining 3 days we will be giving you 3 more reasons why we think you should invest in a Playstation 3. (At some point or another, though we’re all getting it on launch, right?) These will just be 3 of 7 reasons in no specific order, just 7 basic reasons why we see the Playstation 3 as lick-able.
Wireless SIXAXIS Controller
The Playstation 3 comes with one wireless SIXAXIS controller. The controller is wireless, thanks to Blue tooth. (no heart attacks from pacemakers :P) It comes as standard with a tilt function which, as the name suggests, moves in six different ways. Tilt left, tilt right, turn left, turn right, tilt forward tilt backward. This can be used for steering cars, flying jets and other related operations. This makes it a little more exciting to play a game like Motorstorm (A motocross driving game) when the controller acts as a type of steering wheel. The vibration function has unfortunatly been removed, although Sony is contemplating implementing it again. The wireless SIXAXIS controller is very similar to the sleek, stylish design to the Playstation 2’s controller, except it has the Playstation button in the middle, improved buttons and more “trigger-like” L2 and R2 buttons.
4 days left — 4th reason why you should have a ps3
Over remaining 4 days we will be giving you 4 more reasons why we think you should invest in a Playstation 3. (At some point or another, though we’re all getting it on launch, right?) These will just be 4 of 7 reasons in no specific order, just 7 basic reasons why we see the Playstation 3 as lick-able.
Connectivity with the Playstation Portable [PSP]
Let’s face is, there isn’t that many good games for PSP (Save Locoroco) yet. One of the Playstation 3’s features which im personally looking forward too is the connectivity with the PSP. (Playstation Portable) The PSP and PS3 work together directly. You can access your Playstation 3 content (Movies, MP3’s pictures etc) via a wireless network, so anywhere which has a wireless internet connection, you can get your media from your PS3. Also you can use the PSP to wirelessly control your XMB on your PS3, thanks to the Playstation 3’s wireless network.
Probably the most compelling feature though; PS1 games on PSP. By downloading them from the Playstation Store (Or otherwise) you can now play old PS1 games on your Playstation Portable on the go. You basically download a brilliant classic from the Playstation Store (E.g. Syphon Filter) for about £2, then you can save it on your PSP memory stick and play it wherever your like! I know im going to get Final Fantasy on mine as quick as I can. :P
Of course, this isnt all the PSP is good for, we still have brilliant games such as Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and Silent Hill: Origins to come.
Shops stills taking pre-orders = PS3 failure? No
I’ve been reading a lot lately that shops still taking PS3 pre-orders means that the Ps3 has already failed in Europe.
This opinion is pretty stupid. GAME in Poole have taken over 140 pre-orders in a month, granted the Nintendo Wii had more, but not a striking amount more. I worked on the launch and we had 180 Wii units pre-ordered, so only 40 behind for a much more expensive console isnt half bad.
Just to re-assure you this is in no way a failure before launch, theres still a huge amount of interest for Playstation 3, however, unfortunately, I have had a lot of people tell me they’d love one but they’re too expensive… This is still interest and in no way a failure, people aren’t hating the console by any means. I’m hoping im right and this is just good supply from Sony, a start on their “I’m sorry Europe” for making us wait so long.
5 days left — 5th reason why you should have a ps3
Over remaining 5 days we will be giving you 5 more reasons why we think you should invest in a Playstation 3. (At some point or another, though we’re all getting it on launch, right?) These will just be 5 of 7 reasons in no specific order, just 5 basic reasons why we see the Playstation 3 as lick-able.
Everything comes in the box (Value for money, seriously)
Okay, so we all know about the £425 price tag, but why £425? Is Sony just money grabbing because they’re greedy? No. Theyre making a loss even with the £425 price tag, so feel lucky that they aren’t. The reason for the price is that everything comes in the box. In the standard £425 box you get; The wires and stuff, obviously, your Playstation 3 console, with a 60GB hard drive, with a wireless Bluetooth SIXAXIS contoller and with built in Wi-Fi (No paid membership required — not extra costs unlike Xbox 360 member ship which is annual and you have to buy points, as with the Wii.) So, in comparison to the Xbox 360, lets see how the numbers shape up.
| Feature | PS3 Premium | Xbox 360 Premium | Total PS3 | Total Xbox |
| Hard Drive? | Yes, 60GB included | Yes, 20GB included | £425 | £280 |
| Wi-fi? | Yes, Included | No, Ethernet cable only | £425 | + £60 for Wifi = £340 |
| Wireless controller? | Yes, Included. | No, Wired | £425 | + £33 for wireless controller = £372 |
| Batteries for Controller? | No, charges via USB in a PC or the PS3 | Yes, included | £425 (No extra for batteries needed) | (+ maybe for batteries for £15 for charge and play kit.) = £387 |
| Membership for online? | Nope, web browsing and all games online are free. | Membership Required. | £425 | + £40 for one year membership requires renewal. = £427 |
| Blu-Ray Drive? | Yes, comes as standard | No. Alternative is the HD DVD drive | £425 | + £135 for HD DVD Drive = £562 |
So, looking at the table you can see that to even out the accessories for the PS3 and the Xbox 360, you pay over £100 more for the Xbox 360. I’m not saying its not worth it, but what I am saying is dont judge a console by the cost, because with the PS3’s hefty £425 you’re getting a bargain. Not to mention the 360 only offers a 20GB HDD when you get a 60GB HDD with PS3 as standard. (the UK arent getting the 20GB model yet, but even so its still less!) Free internet browsing, free online and now free Playstation home, you cant go wrong.
Free Virtua Tennis 3 for the first 150 to buy from HMV
UK retailer HMV are offering the first 150 people to buy a Playstation 3 from their store in Oxford Circus Store, Central London. Unfortunately it is only their London store and only the first 150, it will not be anyone else in any other place.
Sounds good. Free game isn’t it? Shame they couldn’t have picked a little more exciting title like Motorstorm or Resistance: Fall of Man.
“PlayStation 3 is released this Friday 23rd March, and to celebrate the event, the first 150 customers who buy their PS3 console from our prestigious flagship Oxford Circus Store, Central London, will also pick up a free copy of Virtua Tennis 3 on PS3!”
Source: HMV
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