UK Retailers
British sales chart top 20 - PS3 dominates
During its British-record breaking sales the Playstation 3 has also taken over the UK chart. Here it is, with Resistance: Fall of man in first, followed by Motorstorm:
1. Resistance : Fall of Man (Sony)
2. MotorStorm (Sony)
3. Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 (Codemasters)
4. Virtua Tennis 3 (Sega)
5. Call of Duty 3 : (Activision)
6. Grand Theft Auto : Vice City Stories (Take 2)
7. Formula 1 (Sony)
8. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. : Shadow of Chernobyl (THQ)
9. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 (Electronic Arts)
10. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (Ubisoft)
11. Ridge Racer 7 (Namco Bandai)
12. Def Jam : Icon (Electronic Arts)
13. Fight Night Round 3 (Electronic Arts)
14. Virtua Fighter 5 (Sega)
15. UEFA Champions League 2006 - 2007 (Electronic Arts)
16. Genji : Days of the Blade (Sony)
17. Need for Speed Carbon (Electronic Arts)
18. Final Fantasy XII (Square Enix)
19. TMNT : Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Ubisoft)
20. Crackdown (Microsoft)
I saw a post about the chart which made me laugh. The poster suggested that it was Sony buying their own games! Some people never give up.
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
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.
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
GAME UK decides on a midnight launch
GAME UK (Or GAME Poole at least) will be opening at midnight for the launch of the Playstation 3.
They’re allowing customers which have put a deposit down in at 11:30 to browse the certain deals and decide on what games they want and such. They will then be able to buy the console at 12 midnight, and at this time other customers who have no pre-ordered will be allowed in the store.
The shop will then close around 1ish and reopen again at 7am (earlier than the usual 9am) and continue the day as normal.
Unfortunately im going to have to work from 7am - 9am, but im still going to go in and get my PS3 at midnight for sure!
GAME UK compares 360 and PS3
GAME in the Blue Water center, have a little poster up at their Xbox 360 section comparing the PS3 and the Xbox 360. While I doubt that GAME intend to be so bias and we are told to promote the PS3 (I work at GAME ), but downsizing a major seller is stupid, so I don’t think its their intention….or is it?
Though, it does make a false statement that the PS3 is “full backward compatable with all PS1 and PS2 games”. Im all for promoting the PS3 and I hope it wins the war, but I agree with UK:Resistance, they’ve just made an affordable console look crap.
Source: UK:Resistance
Edit: According to GamesIndustry.biz the sign was completely unauthorized and has now been removed. There, I didnt think GAME would insult such a good seller.
GAME Cares
As of Monday (12th March) GAME, a popular UK retailer have started selling insurance for game consoles in store. The plan they’re calling it GAMECARE. Basically, for a fixed price per console you can get free, unlimited repairs and accidental damage cover for a small price. This varies on how long you take out the plan, from your choice of either 2 or 3 years.
At the moment, during the PS3 launch and a weeks after, GAMECARE for 3 years will be £34.99. I personally think this an excellent deal. It covers you against “accidental damage”… which means if you get bad and throw your SIXAXIS across the room, you’re covered. When I suggested this scenario to the manager of my local GAME about this, she responded with “Its not our problem, Alliance and Cole hill deal with it.”
So there you go. £34.99 for unlimited repairs on your console and everything that comes in the box. Smash your controller once, get a replacement and thats your insurance costs covered. :P
Recent Posts
Gallery
