SF PS3 mob nears 1,000

Burgeoning mass of gamers congregate outside the Metreon complex; first 750 guaranteed consoles following near-scuffle.

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SAN FRANCISCO--With the PlayStation 3's North American debut just hours away, the natives are growing restless. San Francisco natives, that is, who are gathering outside the city's Metreon shopping complex, site of the flagship PlayStation store. Whether they were perched on the sides of metal barricades or seated comfortably in collapsible lawn chairs, the hundreds-strong crowd had gathered for a single reason--to be one of the lucky 400,000 American gamers to get their hands on a PS3 on launch day.

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Curt Feldman checks in on Chris, in the pole position at the Metreon, and subject of an earlier GameSpot News story.

It all began around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, when a plucky quintet of Sony enthusiasts put down stakes. Due to liability reasons, the crowd was not allowed on the sidewalk in front of the Metreon. Instead, they were ushered by security guards hired by Sony to a line on Minna Street, a small alleyway across from the gleaming temple to the gods of commerce. According to those on the scene, by late Wednesday night, the line had grown to around 500, at which point security guards cut it off, shooing away stragglers.

By early Thursday, however, the throng had swelled to more than 700 people, and San Francisco Police Department officers were dispatched to maintain order. Despite that, the façade of civilized behavior almost sloughed away around 7:30 a.m., when Sony employees ordered most of the crowd to relocate onto the sidewalk immediately in front of the PlayStation store on Fourth Street. Immediately, many began to rush to the front, and, according to those waiting in line, "things got ugly" when a scuffle nearly broke out. However, the eager gamers were coerced back by promises from PlayStation store officials that the first 750 people in line were guaranteed PS3 units--indicating that the retail outlet was flush with stock of the sought-after console.

By 8 a.m., the scene had grown more chaotic. The line was divided in half, with the first 500-odd people in line waiting on Fourth Street and several hundred more relegated to Minna Street. But while the Minna crowd was tightly controlled by a half-dozen security guards and the same number of SFPD officers, the Fourth Street line was relatively unattended. While baristas from a certain ubiquitous coffee-shop chain handed out free samples, dozens of newcomers armed with lawn chairs, laptops, and PSPs glommed onto the back of the Fourth Street line. By 8:30 a.m., the queue had snaked around the corner onto Howard Street, passing the pedestrian overpass to the Moscone Convention Center.

Despite the deteriorating sense of order, a Sony rep on hand said that everyone in line--which was pushing 1,000 by 8:45 a.m.--was still guaranteed a PS3. However, if the crowd's size continues to increase at the same rate it had this morning, that could swiftly change. However, as of press time, an SFPD rep could not comment on specific crowd-control plans, saying only that officers would be dispatched should the PlayStation store--or any other retailer--call for backup.

Come back later for more of GameSpot's coverage of the PS3 launches in New York City and San Francisco.

301 Comments

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 23, 2006 5:53 pm PT

    I would have hated to go and not have even gotten a ps3

  • clovy

    Posted Nov 21, 2006 4:03 pm PT

    I totally agree with Masoud03 PS3 rocks

  • Masoud03

    Posted Nov 19, 2006 7:13 am PT

    smurfa1: quit the crap . you forgot about DMC 4 & tekken 6 & .... you cant match them with any of the 360 crap, can you ????? (ps3 > Xbox 360)

  • Anarky

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 8:08 am PT

    Morons

  • Reetesh

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 8:05 am PT

    The PS3 has Finally LAUNCHED! now only one more day for the WII launch and then we will truly be in NEXT GEN!

  • Saphire_Kitsune

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 3:34 pm PT

    Yikes, I saw a crowd acting like a mad stampede on the news. People are beating...even trying to kill each other just to get a PS3...most likely to make some extra money by selling it on ebay. Such a sad world...

  • Valderrama_1

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:15 pm PT

    I got a 360 and all the best games(GoW,GRAW,CoD3,ETC.)BUT THIS NEVER HAPPENED WITH THE 360.nOBODY STARTED MAKING LINES 1 WEEK BEFORE IT came out.Being so expensive,people don't care,they think the PS3 is better...that's when you know you're good

  • blackospr

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:46 pm PT

    just got my ps3,yeaaah!

  • smurfa1

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:41 pm PT

    huy11324: I strongly disagree with you. PS3 has no really intresting launch titles, in my opinion. Metal Gear Solid 4 looks awsome, but it's not a launch title. Assassin's Creed looks intresting too, but it is said to be better on X360. Then we have Killzone. Well it's a cheap copy of Halo. And don't say that Halo sucks, because you're just jealous because it isn't a Playstation game. You also say that the only game we can say is Halo! WTF?! What happened to Gears of War, GRAW, PDZ and a lot of other huge titles?!

  • shazaila

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:36 pm PT

    Moon sand!

  • Ironfist66

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:32 pm PT

    these console launches are crazy

  • Varzen

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:25 pm PT

    Killzone got a 6.7 or so on this very website. Killzone is a case of blown potential. Halo got it right the first time. And the second ...Gears of War also got it right..."the best next-gen game yet," according to reviews. Over even Resistance-- which was great, but not Gears. Sure, I'd wait in line for a PS3...but right now that'd only be to sell it and buy a console with killer apps on it. PS3 has no killer apps yet. None that aren't also for XB360, that is =P Metal Gear Solid 4 may change my mind. But that won't be for half a year.

  • Issachar

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:25 pm PT

    Don't these people have jobs?

  • huy11324

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:19 pm PT

    lmao the only game u can mention is Halo al1en, cus thats the only game worth playing on the xbox and its not even that good, playstation has games that actually make u want to buy a ps3, killzone 2, full auto 2, resistance fall of man, and plenty more, and all u xbox losers can say is HALO!!! HALO HALO!!!, every other game is garbage and u know it. and P.S. Killzone > halo

  • AL13NK1LL3R

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:16 pm PT

    why u want to wait in the line of ps3. there is no chance that u will get it till next year...all the time u waited in line, u coulded of playin gears of war, call of duty 3, and more, and did u know that another halo 2 maps are comin in march, and halo 3 multilplayer beta is comin on the same week as halo 2 maps!!!!!! microsoft and bungie are evil genius haha... and all ps3 games are crappy on lauch date.. so just wait till it gets cheap then all the good games are comin out!!!

  • huy11324

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:59 am PT

    Ebougile u just say that cus ur a nerd with no muscle and cant push back, ur either skinny or fat and the people who go to the gym should have the right to push and shove nerds out of the way.

  • huy11324

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:56 am PT

    every single person in that line and any other 100+ line needs to get a life, yeah ps3 owns xbox360 but dont u failures have anything better to do than sit in a line and wait for a videogame console, get a job and move out of ur parents houses.

  • Ebougile

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:53 am PT

    Not that I am even remotely interested in a Playstation 3, but what does irk me is when people get the "me first" attitude in them. You know, the people who know they weren't ahead of someone else in line but try to shove ahead of them anyway. I see this a lot in society in general. For events like this, store staff should know that the line can get big and someone should be out there handing out numbered tickets so that it is first come, first served fair and square.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:28 am PT

    Some people have waited 2-3 days in front of the store. And you were complaining that the PS3 was too expensive...

  • Trogeton

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:19 am PT

    They know what the deal is, they know that everone is going to get a ps3, all the different things that thing can do, man, I would get one, even if I couldnt get a game with it, and the best part about sony it that they always have a deal with it, like all there consoles, game with accessories, or something to use on them, like the ps3 comes with a movie, xmen last stand, not sure if its at this store, but ever time I bought a sony system , I would get a game or a movie, or something extra, I bought my 360, it came with no disc or anything just the console and the connections, not movie, game or anything, just a few crappy arcade games, I dont want the old crap, I want new gen

  • Issachar

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 11:00 am PT

    haha. losers

  • undox

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 10:56 am PT

    The mob is crazy. Unless you are in the first 750, it is pointless to stand around. Also if you think about it, it is better to wait. With Sony's bad track record with launch system, you should wait until any problems that the system might have. Besides, it is worth waiting a week for a system? I don't think so.

  • saugh

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 10:31 am PT

    Blimey, 750 guaranteed, wooooo.....

  • xatman911

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 9:56 am PT

    This didnt happen with xbox or xbox 360 so I dont see why xbox fans are jumping so high. I think all these companies such as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are controlled by something bigger, an even larger company behind the scenes, lol.

  • X360MadMan

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:12 am PT

    The ps3 2006/to/ 2007 R.I.P. :p

  • h_alipanahgold

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:11 am PT

    the life is short by playstation3
    hadi ali panah say

  • h_alipanahgold

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:11 am PT

    the life is short by playstation3
    hadi ali panah say

  • quietguy

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:00 am PT

    SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 6:54 am PT

    The PS3 will own all.

  • zeta

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 6:37 am PT

    your mom is a tool Sanguis

  • living420

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 6:36 am PT

    Too bad theres no good games for this wonderful system.

  • Cloud737

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 5:59 am PT

    It`s sad to see people stump on each other for something like this. Come on people, it isn`t like this is the only ps3s to ever be produced.

  • menmau

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 5:22 am PT

    Ps3 rulez|||

  • Sanguis_Malus

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 5:01 am PT

    Sad, what a bunch of tools !

  • janlopes

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 4:54 am PT

    ok then

  • xXKINGPINXx

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 4:06 am PT

    man in this numbers and stuff just keep a car running beside the store wait for a guy to buy a PS3 then hit him in the balls (if u know what i mean) and take the PS3 then go to the car with your freinds and step on it that way u get a PS3 with out waitin cool idea man and i forgot its free too!!!

  • Fooljeff

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 3:02 am PT

    Man these line ups must be one hell of a party.

  • YoYo_Bridget

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 2:44 am PT

    "Ariolander
    Remember Remember the 17th of November Console shortage or not I see no reason why PS3 launch Should ever be forgot... Playstation 3, Playstation 3, 'twas Sony's intent to make an Amereican debut. Four hundred thousand score cosole import, to prove Sony's incompetance: By God's mercy my console catch'd For Ebay listing and a bidding match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the money flow. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save Sony! Hip hip hoorah! A penny to hire the homeless. A blistering cold to choke him. A cardboard box to sit him down. A riot of fans to trample him. Throw it onto Ebay. Make a very large profit. Either way I make it ahead. Then we'll say "fastest selling console ever". Hip hip huzzah! Hip hip huzzah!"

    It started off as almost an intelligent rip off from V for Vendetta...but then it just got really stupid. You weren't even trying, were you?

  • bigcrusha

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 2:28 am PT

    It's amazing how people waist their lives trying to line up early. Wake up, there will be more consoles on shelves in less than a week and yet on the first day, it has to be yours. You can wait a year for it, why not wait an extra month to avoid the rush. They deserve to be mocked, they look like a bunch of hungry monkeys fighting for the last banana. LOL...

  • Ariolander

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 2:24 am PT

    Remember Remember the 17th of November Console shortage or not I see no reason why PS3 launch Should ever be forgot... Playstation 3, Playstation 3, 'twas Sony's intent to make an Amereican debut. Four hundred thousand score cosole import, to prove Sony's incompetance: By God's mercy my console catch'd For Ebay listing and a bidding match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the money flow. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save Sony! Hip hip hoorah! A penny to hire the homeless. A blistering cold to choke him. A cardboard box to sit him down. A riot of fans to trample him. Throw it onto Ebay. Make a very large profit. Either way I make it ahead. Then we'll say "fastest selling console ever". Hip hip huzzah! Hip hip huzzah!

  • verdugoRE4

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:53 am PT

    what is this V for Vendetta? Can't people F**g wait? Good luck to anybody in line. Cause i am going to just enjoy my PS2 while i can still buy games for it. Oh yeah and I if i had to choose i would probably pick the Wii.

  • X-Robert

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:24 am PT

    If MGS4 is not only for this console,I doubt I will get one.

  • kyriakos26

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:29 am PT

    Well i thing they are cool waiting in line for days...real gamers thats for sure..lycky for them because we in EU will get the PS3 in 3 months i think....i think SONY hates EU thats way,is the only thing that can be explained!!!!!!

  • X_Gibson_X

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:28 am PT

    There are only 2 things alone that the 360 has better.
    1) Certain exclusive titles. (Gears of War, Halo 3, etc...) but the ps3 will end up with its own exclusive titles too, so that point is null.
    2) HD DVD attachment.

    The PS3 beats out the xbox in every other way.

  • metalmulisha808

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:17 am PT

    ill wait when it is available on the shelf.

  • deathbyjinx

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 11:02 pm PT

    damn.. limited number of PS3 consoles?? When will the ps3 be available in asia??

  • jingwa

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 10:14 pm PT

    Cant say im surprised, what you expect to happen when Sony basically says we only got a few ps3's. Everyone will be camping the front door hoping to be the 1st.

    Atleast the Wii there will be a pritty decent amount, so people can afford to go shoping like normal people and not be so dam tired u cant stay awake to play the games, because u been camping out the shop all nite.

  • Shadowofthedark

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 10:05 pm PT

    xbox>>>ps3
    cheaper and better. will probably go for another price drop. i'm buying myself one this holidays

  • stripeknight

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:10 pm PT

    Awwww, these guys are so cool, they're going to buy the first shipment with backwards compatability and bug issues, and look they are following all over themselves and sleeping in the cold just for us! All I can say is thank you and sorry about the fact that most of you for haveing to send your messedup systems for a few months to Sony! Aw well.

  • tthEGuY11234

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 8:52 pm PT

    are u guys all nerdz? u give video gamers a bad name...afraid of getin shot...juss shoot back...y tha hell u play all them first person shotterz 4?

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