PS3 Launch Rated "M" for Blood & Gore, Intense Violence
PS3 Launch Rated "M" for Blood & Gore, Intense Violence
November 18, 2006
Getting your hands on a PS3 yesterday wasn’t all fun and games. In fact, Nov. 17, 2006 will go down as the craziest, bloodiest most insane product launch of any consumer product - ever.
Putnam, CT: Two armed men tried to rob a group of people lined up outside a Wal-Mart. One man refused to give up his money and was shot.
Elk Grove, CA: Two armed men walked into a GameStop, held workers at gunpoint, and made off with four PS3s and four Xbox 360s.
Lexington, KY: Four in a crowd of thirty people lined up outside a Best Buy were hit by BB pellets fired from a passing car. All are okay including a TV news reporter who was on the scene conducting interviews. Click for video.
Lehigh Valley, PA: A 17-year-old didn’t even leave the parking lot of the mall where he bought his PS3 before a man tapped on his window with a handgun and, placing the gun against the boy's neck, robbed him of his brand-new PS3.
West Bend, WI: Having only ten PS3s available for sale, a Wal-Mart employee decided to play musical chairs with the gathered crowd of about 50. Would be-buyers were lined up in mad race for the ten console-guaranteeing seats. In the resulting melee, one man dislocating his jaw by running - or being pushed - into a flagpole. See the video. The good news for the injured man is that, although he didn't get a system on launch day, the personal injury lawsuit he's sure to file against deep-pockets Wal-Mart will pay for a lot of PS3's.
Wilmington, NC: A UNCW student was robbed by four men while he was unloading his recently purchased PS3s (apparently, he had two) from the trunk of his car.
Fresno, CA: Video of a near-riot which took place outsideof a Best Buy location.
Manchester, CT: A GameSpot forum poster who claims he was robbed (we haven't yet found a news report confirming confirmed here) described a beating he took from four or five men who made off with his newly acquired PS3 and games. Apparently, one fell out of the car during the getaway and is in police custody.
Is that all?
Not even close. In addition to various examples of unruliness nationwide, the Associated Press chronicles even more incidents including a PS3 robbery which ending in a stabbing and resulted in police using talcum powder balls and pepper pellets on the crowd.
You want more launch day madness? How about a pregnant woman who wouldn’t get out of line when she started having contractions?Here's a video about a Palmdale, CA Wal-Mart closing its doors in the face of a rowdy crowd, a few people fined $400 for pitching a tent, and another pregnant gal.
Joystiq has a nice round-up of PS3 launch incidents as well, including some that we didn't list here.
-Reporting from San Diego, GP Correspondent Andrew Eisen may just shop online from now on...
Putnam, CT: Two armed men tried to rob a group of people lined up outside a Wal-Mart. One man refused to give up his money and was shot.
Elk Grove, CA: Two armed men walked into a GameStop, held workers at gunpoint, and made off with four PS3s and four Xbox 360s.
Lexington, KY: Four in a crowd of thirty people lined up outside a Best Buy were hit by BB pellets fired from a passing car. All are okay including a TV news reporter who was on the scene conducting interviews. Click for video.
Lehigh Valley, PA: A 17-year-old didn’t even leave the parking lot of the mall where he bought his PS3 before a man tapped on his window with a handgun and, placing the gun against the boy's neck, robbed him of his brand-new PS3.
West Bend, WI: Having only ten PS3s available for sale, a Wal-Mart employee decided to play musical chairs with the gathered crowd of about 50. Would be-buyers were lined up in mad race for the ten console-guaranteeing seats. In the resulting melee, one man dislocating his jaw by running - or being pushed - into a flagpole. See the video. The good news for the injured man is that, although he didn't get a system on launch day, the personal injury lawsuit he's sure to file against deep-pockets Wal-Mart will pay for a lot of PS3's.
Wilmington, NC: A UNCW student was robbed by four men while he was unloading his recently purchased PS3s (apparently, he had two) from the trunk of his car.
Fresno, CA: Video of a near-riot which took place outsideof a Best Buy location.
Manchester, CT: A GameSpot forum poster who claims he was robbed (
Is that all?
Not even close. In addition to various examples of unruliness nationwide, the Associated Press chronicles even more incidents including a PS3 robbery which ending in a stabbing and resulted in police using talcum powder balls and pepper pellets on the crowd.
You want more launch day madness? How about a pregnant woman who wouldn’t get out of line when she started having contractions?Here's a video about a Palmdale, CA Wal-Mart closing its doors in the face of a rowdy crowd, a few people fined $400 for pitching a tent, and another pregnant gal.
Joystiq has a nice round-up of PS3 launch incidents as well, including some that we didn't list here.
-Reporting from San Diego, GP Correspondent Andrew Eisen may just shop online from now on...
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:07pm
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:01pm
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense.
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:52pm
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:50pm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:49pm
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:44pm
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:42pm
Andrew Eisen: Note to JT, it is not illegal to sell kids a ticket to R-rated movies.
Andrew Eisen: Note to JT, it is not illegal to sell kids a ticket to R-rated movies.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:39pm
Cheater87: Jack said we would be better with no rating sytem.
Cheater87: Jack said we would be better with no rating sytem.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:35pm
Alareth: So what was the introduction used for Jack?
Alareth: So what was the introduction used for Jack?
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:31pm
JDKJ: Heard one, you've heard 'em all. He repeats the same act, with the same half-truths, over and over.
JDKJ: Heard one, you've heard 'em all. He repeats the same act, with the same half-truths, over and over.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:31pm
Andrew Eisen: Using a credit card as age verification is not illegal. Hope Mark called him on that and his made up statistics.
Andrew Eisen: Using a credit card as age verification is not illegal. Hope Mark called him on that and his made up statistics.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:30pm
Alareth: Jack is special, his mommy always told him so.
Alareth: Jack is special, his mommy always told him so.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:29pm
Andrew Eisen: JT lied about that APA causation thing again. Wonder if Mark called him on it.
Andrew Eisen: JT lied about that APA causation thing again. Wonder if Mark called him on it.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:04pm
Andrew Eisen: Follow the JT/Methenitis debate on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jtdebate
Andrew Eisen: Follow the JT/Methenitis debate on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jtdebate
Posted 07/04/09 at 01:18pm
Andrew Eisen: Rodrigo - A fun idea but you might want to fix the typos.
Andrew Eisen: Rodrigo - A fun idea but you might want to fix the typos.
Posted 07/04/09 at 12:57pm
GRIZZAM PRIME: Happy 4th of July!
GRIZZAM PRIME: Happy 4th of July!
Posted 07/04/09 at 12:44pm
Yuuri: Happy Blow Crap Up Day!
Yuuri: Happy Blow Crap Up Day!
Posted 07/04/09 at 11:09am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: I designed this shirt for Jack debate today: http://i44.tinypic.com/2552t89.jpg
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: I designed this shirt for Jack debate today: http://i44.tinypic.com/2552t89.jpg
Posted 07/04/09 at 11:06am
BearDogg-X: There's a one minute and a half preview of the video game episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! up at http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/home.do
BearDogg-X: There's a one minute and a half preview of the video game episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! up at http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/home.do
Posted 07/04/09 at 10:08am
Arcanagos: Happy 4th all
Arcanagos: Happy 4th all
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
Do you honestly believe that every person who is selling a PS3 after launch for a profit is a thief, willing to steal from another to make a said profit? Believe it or not, there are many out there who can identify an oportunity, such as a major console launch, as a chance to make a profit for the proper investment. For example, look at John's anecdote. He has clear need, one which can be alleviated by money. He is able to see that the few weeks after a major console launch, before several shipments of the console are made around the country, they will be worth more to people, who not only want the console, but want it now. So he pre-orders and purchases several PS3s, and gets several thousand dollars profit, with which he can pay off a large portion of his college debt.
Also, I don't know where you came up with me saying that people robbing eachother is a sign of capitalism. I was criticizing grls-r-gamers-2's viewpoint that selling something for a profit over eBay is exploitation, and stated that that is an example of the capitalist system. I in no way believe that resorting to violence or stealing is based on an economic system.
Someone is selling a PS3 for over 10 million. Now, consider this: does that really mean that it's entrepreneurship? or is it a bunch of morons trying to make a quick buck? (keep in mind that most of the people who stole one are usually the ones who are looking to sell it for a quick buck).
The fact that people are willing to kill each other for a PS3 doesn't show how the nation's economy is based; rather, it's showing the core reason of greed and corruption.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0077402/
I wonder if the Wii launch is going to be any different. My guess it'll get a T rating for mild violence, suggestive themes, and references to alcohol. :)
I don’t know about elsewhere, but here in CT, people were SELLING spots in line, and PAYING others to save theirs.
It was raining a freaking storm here too, I wouldn't have been caught in that waterworld simply for a PS3. Ironically I work at the Red Robin in Manchester, CT, I was surprised to find one of the beating stories was right across the street. That is damn near sad.
Also to GP, another link to the Manchester/Putnam incident: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-playshot1118.artnov18,0,146205.stor...
Most of it looks the same as the other though, probably same source.
Funny enough I dunno if Buckland had any campers outside it, but I didn't look. Mall security there is usually pretty tight so I'm surprised that it happened.
You are 15, Ill spell this out for you.
I am a junior in college, each year costs ~25k. even with grants I am about 40k in debt( USD). I am looking for gradschool, unless I can get some more money I am looking at 30-45k per year.
How did I get the money? I borrowed it. Zero risk investment. if I don't sell them I return them and can give back all capital. Its called being an entrepreneur. Even when I do get a job, that still is serious money to be paying off. Now if i can pull 10-20k profit, for only 2 days of work, can you find me one job for an undergrad that pays that much? Getting rid of half my debt in a few days of misery, yeah worth it.
Word of advice, you are 15. It is not a bad thing, but you have not had to actually have real bills pile up yet. You don't know what it is like knowing in under a year you have to find a job, place to live, get into another school, and otherwise figure stuff out. Judging from your post you have tuition now, meaning you go to a private school. Thus you come from money. Sluff it out being poor, where your first 10 years you get one Christmas every 2 years, drink powdered milk because it is cheaper, and shop at thrift stored because you have to, then come back here and tell me if you see the chance for extreme profit with little effort that you wouldn't take it.
You make good points, but the fact is it's exploitation. If I waited in line for 3 days and learned that the only way to get a PS3 was to buy one from the guy ahead of me for even only twice the price, I'd be pissed. Fortunately, I'm not that stupid.
If you have to pay off college or bills, don't buy the goddamn system in the first place. You should've started saving earlier, or you could've gotten a *gasp* job. I don't mean to offend anybody, but seriously.
And besides, how do you know that the people selling them are lower-middle class people that need to pay for college? With all the robberies, chances are that many of the ones doing the reselling are the theives wanting to get rid of the evidence and make a quick buck.
I'm not even lower-middle class and I don't... well, I DO have the money to blow on a PS3, but 1) my mom won't let me withdraw it (I'm 15) and 2) I'm saving for college.
@ John.
I probably misunderstood your post, but are you saying that you spent somewhere from $7500 to $9000 so you could resell the PS3s and pay off ONE YEAR of college? If you had that much money, you probably have a job that could easily pay for your college. My brother's in a special one-year program at college that costs more than one year of my tuition and you know what his thing costs? $10,000. YOU could've paid for it without having to resell!
And how much are you asking for them, anyway? If it's not ridiculously overpriced, like $700 then that's not so bad... but it is stupid.
Tuition for COLLEGE. Duh. I go to a public school.
I think John meant that since you already have tuition money set aside for college, he assumed you have enough money to attend private school. Also, to call what he's doing exploitation is a little extreme. When I hear the word "exploitation", I think of someone being taken advantage of who is too naive or powerless to stop it. This isn't the case here, everyone had an equal chance to get a PS3, it was dependent on who was the earliest bird. While I personally find the hoarding of systems to be somewhat distasteful, I blame Sony for the shipping shortage more, and I'm also a big believer in free market. You also should remember that not all colleges cost the same per year. $10,000/yr was a lot back in the mid-90's when I was in college, but not these days.
Personally, I can definitely understand charging what the buyer will pay; it's important to remember that a dollar to one person may be a penny to someone else. Many of these folks buying on eBay may be getting gouged, but for all we know they may be loaded and not even feel it. We can't make that assumption.
This kind of thing is why I never buy new systems. With great games coming out all the time, I can always find something on current-gen to amuse me until all the furor dies down and the prices are more favorable to the consumer.
Yeah I'm an opportunistic asshole, but if I didn't buy a ps3 and then resell it at a profit then I wouldn't be able to afford to buy my daughter an Ariel Talking Kitchen this christmas. Would you want to tell a cute little two year old who just wants to pretend to wash dishes that her daddy is a cold hearted bastard?
Say by next year things have settled and you can find a PS3 at MSRP fairly reliably, perhaps having to look around a little bit. I'd like to say the 360 was easy enough to find at launch + 6 months, but we'll give . If that were the case, then for the price of a PS3 now ($2100, which looks like a conservative price), you can buy a PS3 one year from now plus an extra $125 a month. I guess there's some people out there for whom that doesn't matter, but I for one would love to have an extra $125 a month - I'd say that can easily pay for the entertainment you'd need since you dont' have a PS3, and you'd still have some left over.
You're telling me that the Ariel Talking Kitchen costs more than a PS3?
1) According to online comic Ctrl Alt Del, one....ONE store (a Best Buy IIRC), handed out special tickets to the first people to show up so they wouldn't camp out and could come back the next day and get one. Whoever came up with that idea in that store deserves an instant promotion to either PR or HR head of Best Buy, and all other managers of every level involved in selling PS3's should be ashamed that they weren't ready for this seeing as how console releases in recent history have a good chance of becoming violent.
2) Thank god purchasing things off the internet is possible. In fact, every issue listed here could have been avoided by doing so.
3) Normally I would lambast people for buying consoles when they come out seeing as how every console launch has been littered with bugs, not-so-hot titles, soon to be upgraded and improved features, and highest price. However, I feel it's more important to smack the people on ebay who are paying thousands of dollars for the same machines. What is wrong with them. Consoles (portable or otherwise) are not the types of machines you want first generation.
My other question is, is this the first time or are we just looking for these stories because this launch is particularly rare.
As for all the mess involveing the PS3 in retial shops its the retail and SOnys fault for not haveing police and more guards there,Sony should damn well know the fuss it would cause for it small early reelase they should ahve done more to tell the stupid retailers to prepare
Although, I would argue that the prevalence of people being robbed for their PS3s are more a function of a majority of the people who want them are old enough to buy guns, rather than young enough to be horribly scarred psychologically by them.
"2) Thank god purchasing things off the internet is possible. In fact, every issue listed here could have been avoided by doing so."
The problem for these poeple is that ordering online takes too long... i'm not, cause i don't know much about this stuff, but i'd wager to guess that ordering online around the lauch date could probably have you put on a long waiting list.... espeically with the shortage on units and all... Fastest way to get it is on Ebay, but there your paying about 3-4 times the price...
"However, I feel it’s more important to smack the people on ebay who are paying thousands of dollars for the same machines. "
Indeed, i partly blame them for this fiasco... their willingness to pay any price and not draw the line is what causes the ebay prices to skyrocket... and a lot of those campers aren't gamers that want a PS3, they are greedy bastards who just want to make some quick cash and are taking advantage of the overly desperate buyers... and i'd be willing to be that the ones engaging in crimes and violence are mostly just greedy bastards, not true gamers... If those buyers had the will to draw the line at like $1000, then their would be far less that the greedy bastards could cash in on, and thus the amount of theft and violence would reduce... this fiasco is a pure example of idocy and greed...
I don't think i'll ever understand the minds of the lauch day buyers... It's just not worth it damn it!
And as for the assholes who're selling them on Ebay... What. The. FUCK!!! There are people there that actually WANT the damn system, and you're going to not only take it from them, but say "If you want it, pay my outrageous price of $2,100"?!?!?!?! That should be fuckin' ILLEGAL! But it isn't. And I can't believe there are idiots out there that are actually PAYING those prices!
I don't know about elsewhere, but here in CT, people were SELLING spots in line, and PAYING others to save theirs.
Idiots. Fucking idiots. Fucking obsessive idiots. Video games aren't making them do this. It's their goddamn stupidity. They just happen to be stupid over video games.
I want a PS3, but skipping school, pissing in a bottle, and sleeping in front of a store for a week is NOT WORTH IT!!!!! (And btw, all three of the example I just gave actualy happened.)
End rant.
As for the internet-purchasing comments, this problem wouldn't exist if it weren't for the people selling their PS3's online! For those people who are going to be making $1,500+ by immediately reselling their purchases online, waiting in line 4 days would definately be worth it! I feel sick, though, knowing that those people who robbed others for the system will undoubtedly be selling them online, too, and there's no way to make sure no-one buys those.
---oh I see, too many incidents.
Damn, five PS3s? Can you link the story?
I don’t know about elsewhere, but here in CT, people were SELLING spots in line, and PAYING others to save theirs.
Same thing here in Houma(people selling their spots in line, just getting the PS3 to sell on eBay; no violence at all here, though)
Also, did it ever occur to you haters that the people who bought the systems for a higher price were unwilling to wait in line (which, judging by these stories, was the right idea) for one, and think it's worth the extra money to order it from home? If they are willing to pay that much for a system, that should be their decision. It's not like anybody's forcing them to buy the PS3 online, or forced them to get the console in the launch period. If the buyers were smart, they would just wait. However, they clearly believe in instant gratification, and the sellers are giving them that chance.
Jingle All The Way, 1996: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116705/
I hate it when people use games to further their own popularity rather than for the actual enjoyment of the games. I was one of the first people in Australia to have a Gamecube but that didn't mean that I went to school telling everyone. In fact, in was about two weeks later that people found out from a friend who had come home with me to study on the previous afternoon.
Short version: Police pepper rowdy crowd.
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=600&sid=978347
I live near by so I'm annoyed I missed the chance to see that. ^_^
Good point.
@Shedek and Terminator
I don't know if that was in response to my post or not. I wasn't actually putting blame on the people buying them to resell, but instead on the people buying off of eBay. I understand that it's their right to make that decision, I just personally feel that when logic, reason, and history come together with technology such as with game consoles, it really doesn't make much sense to early adopt at four times (and beyond) the price.
Any argument over my reselling is just oppinion. I had one woman tell me I was ruining her sons christmas. I told her I was about to pay off a year of college. It is all perspective. If her kid's christmas was that important, she should have been in line earlier than me. Simple logic. How can she justify her kid's holiday is more important than paying bills? Lunacy. Most ebayers in my area were lower middle class people risking their paychecks to make some much needed cash. It is hard to argue morality over an entertainment device.
Yeah People like to play games. If you like it enough you will pay me what I ask, or wait. Think I am cutthroat, evil, or other wise an ass? That's fine, I would reply but the 10-20k in my bank account makes the pain go away
I can only imagine what Sony and MS public relations are doing behind closed doors to spin this to their advantage. Think about the possibilities.
Sony PS3: Worth dying for.
*Terminator voice* Buy a 360 if you want to live.
Andrew
Wii=Family oriented gaming
...now let's see what happens tomorrow. If anything as drastic as a robbery occurs tomorrow with a theft of a Wii, then it's gaming in general. If there is nothing of the sort, than it's over-hype on a product and the irrationality of "Wanting the best thing around for little Timmy" or "Popularity consumes me"
I'm going with the latter on this one.
We should keep an eye out for any form of criminal activity tomorrow on the subject of the Wii.
I did the same thing with PS2, i waited for a year and a half and i got one for christmas. Sadly the thing got stolen by a crack addict 3 years later. Also, on Attack of The Show last night, they showed an E-bay auction for a PS3 that was, i shit you not, $25,000 o.O! how retarded are you fucking people, grow the fuck up!
It's
A
Video
Game.
IT'S NOT WORTH THIS
Buuuuuut a part of me things this wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for the insane prices a lot of those people will fetch for the console they bought solely to sell on eBay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVHD2rs23MM
It's called patience. Guess what? I'll waltz into the store tonite and buy a Wii at midnight. If they are gone? So what. I can wait till after Xmas and they release the red one, anyway.
However, they pale in comparison to the 129 people crushed to death at a Cadiz, KY Ben Franklin store when the new Magnavox Odyssey went on sale the morning of May 16, 1972.
Sorry, no video available.
Exploitation? The people buying the PS3's on eBay are not being coerced into buying the systems. They're fighting over who will be able to do so! I don't know what your understanding of economics is, but this is supply and demand. Every person on eBay knows that if they were to just wait a few weeks, Sony would begin shipping more PS3's, supply would go up, demand would be met, and prices would go down. However, right now supply is low, therefore the highest bidder gets what they want, for the price they are willing to pay.
Also, do you think that getting a job is some ultimately noble way to earn money? The truth is, a job is selling your labor, while selling a PS3 is selling a PS3. Both are examples of a transaction where each party is getting what they want, for what they are willing to pay.
Sony should have deleyed its release if they couldnt meet demand but seeing as they're such assholes i doubt they care much.
pretty much I mean they could have skipped this whole mess and released the what 40K world wide for 1.5-2G a pop then when they have stock built up sell it for the normal price of 600 a pop...but nnnoooooo...soon they will sue Ebay for making a profit off sales...like the importers do....
You just keep missing the point. In some households money is stretched to the point that buying Ariel's Super Kitchen is out of the budget. Many americans are hourly workers, living paycheck to paycheck. For them even a simple trip to the movies need's worked into a budget. So many parents accrue large debts to keep their children happy and give them what they want. If they can put up a no risk investment, and guarantee a large chunk of money to augment what they have, that is why they do it.
You seem to miss the point of why people do this: I could go, right now and take a loan for 10k USD. Use it all to buy PS3. Worst case scenario, I break even, meaning I sell at cost or just return for cash refund. Since that is not going to happen, I make a profit everytime, pay back loan, and essentially have risked no money. More like I held up some funds for a month.
1. You cannot compare a luxery item like the PS3 to an investment like university/college. Most college students waste a good portion of loans and grants on luxery items, bills that are not education related, etc. I know this because I am university student myself, and while I'm not guilty of wasting loans or grants in such a fashion, I know plenty of fellow students who do, have and continue to do so.
2. She is well beneath the age at which one realizes what things cost, or the implications of spending $1500 dollars on something you will get bored with in 6 months. You'd have better luck charming a dead possum, just stop goddamn it.
The only constant I see in the majority of cases stated above (original post) is "gun-this", "gun-that". And while I don't blame the tool, ie: the gun, I blame the tool, ie: the person holding the gun.
Instead, Sony is making less money, and violence erupted. Thank you Sony for your brilliant decision making process. I'm sure all the game developers are going to flock to draw in more customers now that it costs more to produce games on a console that is pretty much guaronteed to sell by the lack of total PS3 ownership.
If sony would have sent out a memo to all the stores they sold to, to sell at higher than MSRP it would have been the worst possible press they could have ever asked for.
The may have cooled things down, just slightly, by recently announcing that the European model is to be without the special chip to help with PS2 compatability and also it will be be built using a cheaper chassis.
Maybe this new version will be launched in the US market soon to allow for a price reduction?