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Sony caps SF PS3 line at 'around 700'

PlayStation maker clamps down, handing out numbered wristbands, dispatching spokesmodels, and dispensing food to patient gamers in the rain.

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SAN FRANCISCO--After some initial confusion, the biggest San Francisco line for the PlayStation 3 has grown much more orderly. Though it appeared to be mobbed this morning, the queue outside the Metreon shopping complex, formerly owned by Sony, has gone from restless rabble to sedate throng, thanks to a security clampdown and elaborate crowd-management system.

Unlike the scene at 8 a.m., the line on Fourth Street in front of the Metreon at 1:30 p.m. was calm and almost placid. Metal security barricades now completely encircled both the Minna Street lines and Fourth Street lines, the latter of which had been considerably shortened since the morning. On hand were around 20 Sony employees--including a dozen-odd spokesmodels--in red and black uniforms, as well as about 10 San Francisco Police Department officers. A full lane of the always-busy Fourth Street was also blocked off to accommodate trucks off-loading equipment...and burritos.

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GameSpot editor Curt Feldman chats with Michael, number 374 in line, outside the Metreon in San Francisco.

Yes, following the Napoleonic motto that "an army always marches on its stomach," Sony commissioned two mobile kitchens to dispense gratis Mexican food to the PS3 line. In turn, this development led to the orchestration of a bathroom-pass system more complex than that of the strictest high school. Those wishing to relieve themselves had to sign a form and were handed a large black laminated pass which allowed them temporary reprieve from the light rain that had begun to fall by early afternoon.

Those who departed the PS3 line could return with confidence knowing their place was secure. In stark contrast to the unruly crowd in New York City, those waiting outside the Metreon were given numbered red wristbands guaranteeing them a console. The bands were handed out in no specific order, with some at the front of the line having higher numbers than in the rear. That said, Sony employees on hand assured GameSpot that "around 700" wristbands had been handed out and anyone wearing one was guaranteed a console when they went on sale at midnight.

There was one catch to the orderly PS3-dispensation scheme. As was the case in Tokyo last week, those in line did not know which model of the PS3 they would get. "I don't know if I'm getting the good one or the crappy one," Chris, 22, said as he hunkered down on a lawn chair on Minna Street. "All I know is I'm getting one."

The excess crowd that had congregated in the morning had apparently been dispersed without incident. But for those hoping to budge in line, New York-style, another anonymous PS3 buyer had two choice words. "You're SOL," he said, gleefully brandishing bracelet number 338. He then motioned to the half-dozen security guards in windbreakers standing fast at the back of the line, laughing.

147 Comments

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 23, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    Thankfully it wasn't a big mob of people

  • hemakm3

    Posted Nov 18, 2006 7:33 am GMT

    Very civilized.

  • risi37

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:56 pm GMT

    not bad

  • nobeaner

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:59 pm GMT

    I am in the wrong field. I need a job where I can afford to camp outside a store for a few days for a product to release.

  • bobreturns

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:22 pm GMT

    i think this is crazy why do people do it most of the ps3's will have been reserved so they dont need to go wait in some cases a week in the cold for it

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 12:15 pm GMT

    Getting tired of this news...

  • poncho88x

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:00 am GMT

    Well who thought the lines would be short im kinda tired of hearinf how big the lines are we all knew they were going to hit triple digits

  • poncho88x

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 7:00 am GMT

    Well who thought the lines would be short im kinda tired of hearinf how big the lines are we all knew they were going to hit triple digits

  • princeofgames90

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 3:15 am GMT

    Big news

  • rikardo10

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 2:07 am GMT

    well i think now each console has something to give,
    xbox360: Gears of War
    PS3: Resistance
    Wii: Zelda TP

    this is goin to be a sweet console war, especially if u r going to own the 3.lol.

  • zaitsev_v1

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:59 am GMT

    As I said before, West coast is alway way more organized than East coast. Read this article and then read the one in NYC and you'll see.

  • Prince_jeffery

    Posted Nov 17, 2006 1:34 am GMT

    A much better picture than line-cutters .

  • mrblah00

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 10:27 pm GMT

    Finally a good idea, handing out things that are difficult to reproduce to gurantee people a console. Whoever is in charge of the new york one should be fired, the fact that there arent any security guards there and not even a ticket system is ridiculous, its going to get messy there really quick.

    Did the guy whos running the New York event used to work at the Arabian Horse Association?

  • vercetti_dude2

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 10:27 pm GMT

    How one spends one's time is their preference and not for us to judge. If they feel waiting in the cold is worth it for the PS3, so be it. Such things are relative, so stop this pointless blabber.

    Opinions? Sure. But claiming that these ppl are wasting their lives is rather ignorant.

  • thefjk

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:36 pm GMT

    Just crazy man!

  • Gmacrusher

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:33 pm GMT

    even though those are great news..but those chicks are hot.. non regular hot but steamingly hot..i know that they are models and they also like PS3. Now thats another reason to buy a PS3!! hot hot hot..sorry guys didn't mean to do it..

  • sainraja

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:30 pm GMT

    "the thing is... most of these people in line aren't there because they plan on keeping the system... they're doing it because they want to buy it for $500-600 and then turn around and sell it on eBay or Craigslist for $2500 in philly to $4000 in New York C"

    Yeah, the people in line are selling it on eBay to someone else who will buy it. You're such a genius. If they don't find a buyer, they will end up keeping it or selling it at retail price so someone who wants it will end up getting it. I know a lot of people who want one but would sell their first just because of the money they can get out of it. They will use that money to buy another when they can.

    I don't know why anyone will try to turn this sell on ebay thing into a negative one. It really is not. If there are buyers out there that will buy it for that much then all the power to them, but I don't support them because I would rather be the one getting it for retail price to enjoy the system....

  • FAMILYGUYFAN17

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:28 pm GMT

    I THINK THATS PRETTY COOL OF SONY OR WHOEVER DID IT. WAY TO GO.

  • Cpazrun

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:12 pm GMT

    You guys see those two chicks in the first pic? They were sitting right next to me on BART as I was going on my way to the Metreon. Pretty sweet eh? The one on the right is pretty hot...

  • Furbyballistik

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:09 pm GMT

    for u idiots sitting here saying that these guys are wasting their life just for camping out for two days, the what does that make you? cuz it seems like u guys are soo interested and are reading every little detail about wats happening wit this camping stuff.....that only makes what your doing soo much more important than what they are doing......

  • Thesilverpimp

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:03 pm GMT

    this is one of the moments you will alwways remember lol that's how you live life yo, lol dont listen to those telling you to get a life, This IS life (well, at least partof it) enjoy the entire confusiness and stress, pain and joy from the deadly rain and mockery of crowds and maybe me (cuz im a xbox 360 boy)
    but yea (instant transmission out from forum)

  • pigmarcher

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:03 pm GMT

    360 has gears of war
    ps3 has resistance
    it is nt as if gears of war is the only gd FPS game out tt on market....

    hwever, msg4 is only exclusive 2 ps3. nuff said....

  • thekey

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 8:50 pm GMT

    rbunnell
    "GEARS OF WAR........................................the end. "

    I know Gears of War out sold the PS3 at launch I know it did!

  • Tungsten88

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 8:28 pm GMT

    Wow, I should go over there to laugh, but they get free food...free Mexican food! wahahahaha! even more reason to laugh. (food preference, not race preference btw).

  • vaejas

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 7:52 pm GMT

    Them's some good photographs. (Yes, I looked at them all. )

  • cmontyx49

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 7:46 pm GMT

    "Carnage143
    I'm sorry but you this much time in your life to camp out in a line for a video game system then you really are a pathetic waste of life. It's a game system for christ sake. "

    But really, what have you done in the last two days that is so amazing that it makes these people look like fools? Really, two days is nothing.

  • evangelion80

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 7:42 pm GMT

    hell id just sell the wristband for a few hundred. u know people would buy it if it mean tthey could get a ps3

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 7:39 pm GMT

    itd be more humane to send em home, but the marketing bods are probably keen to have them sitting there like cattle, stirring up interest.

  • DemonKaiba

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 7:36 pm GMT

    Wouldn't it have been nice to count the ppl that actually have a chance of getting this system and tell the rest to go home? I mean it was pouring down rain, cold rain, and these stores still have these ppl out there. It's sad and funny at the same time. SMH, I just dont get it.

  • Carnage143

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 7:31 pm GMT

    I'm sorry but you this much time in your life to camp out in a line for a video game system then you really are a pathetic waste of life. It's a game system for christ sake.

  • ForsbergFan21

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 7:29 pm GMT

    the 2 blondes are pretty cute and yes, I clicked to check out the chicks, lol

    so, what was the article about again? lol

  • crithon

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:53 pm GMT

    ...... this is so depression. I mean it's sleezy, I mean the XBox 360 was people who enthusaticly enjoyed the potential of the system. You know what, I didn't like the 360, but that's the biggest complement you will hear from me.

  • BYS2

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:50 pm GMT

    actually bdhood, most of the people are keeping the system... if you watch the news, they interviewed some the people in line and only 1 guy said that he only wanted one to sell

  • WarGrad

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:47 pm GMT

    Lots of LOL!!! I am not getting either one and instead using that money to finish my new gaming rig. At least I am nice and warm.

  • bdhood

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:44 pm GMT

    the thing is... most of these people in line aren't there because they plan on keeping the system... they're doing it because they want to buy it for $500-600 and then turn around and sell it on eBay or Craigslist for $2500 in philly to $4000 in New York City

  • chiefmegadeth

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:39 pm GMT

    Good bye sony good bye sony you are doomed

  • crushgoil

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:39 pm GMT

    wow crazy.. 700 is a lot..

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:15 pm GMT

    1 store, 700 systems, wow. Something tells me that the local game retailers are kind of annoyed by that .

  • MichealRoboto

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 6:01 pm GMT

    yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah...im gettin the Wii

  • dukerav

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:58 pm GMT

    "spokesmodels" lol. On a more serious note, this is the way the NY situation should be handled.

  • vercetti_dude2

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:45 pm GMT

    ecno13, I'd like to remain neutral on this subject but according to you then...the people who camped out for 360 and are camping out for the Wii are fools who aren't/weren't sure as well? Sure, camping out is kind of extreme...but that fact that they are doing it should technically mean those campers have full confidence in their system.

  • Benshki

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    Is there any such thing as going to far? Christ what idiots.

  • TOSgamer10

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    kids are so stupid. The only thing the 60gig has over the 20 is harddrive space, flash card readers and wifi. That is far from crappy.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:38 pm GMT

    noobs

  • FstBrk342

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:25 pm GMT

    well that sux, some people wont have any choice other than to get a 20 gig, well i guess they can sell it on ebay otherwise theyre stuck with the inferior one...

  • ecno13

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:23 pm GMT

    snow storms and rain must suck... Im with ranbull chainsawen Fools. And for all the people camping out.........HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHASDHAHAHAHAHa... crack me up. the thing about it is... no one was sure of the ps3 and still arnte.. so thats why no one preordered and thats why all those fools are camping.

  • Furbyballistik

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:19 pm GMT

    Raginbull.....that was the gheyist comeback i heard.....ever......cuz theres thousands of people waiting in line for a ps3 in new york...ALSO! not only that, there is people jumping the line, and starting fights just so they can get that low quality thing microsoft boys call a ps3....why are u wasting your time in here starting crap, when u have the "Godly" game "gears of war" u micro boys seem to keep talkin about....your sitting here talkin about how these guys in line dont have a life...well your in here wastin your life dissing people tryin to get a ps3.........turkey

  • vercetti_dude2

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 5:19 pm GMT

    I love false observations from ppl like mmpr7. If you consider chinese and african-american "japanese" you seriously need a doctor. The way the line was organized in San Francisco is actually very cool and rather impressive. What I don't understand is why the 360boys still insist on bashing PS3 because I don't see PS3 or Wii people bashing the Xbox with such intensity. It's coming out, and it's popular...get over it. What's wrong with burritos? What you expect a steak dinner? Rather than waste your time here trashing the PS3 and not changing anything, why not go play Gears of War? It's spectacular and probably more fun than typing up mindless insults (unless you disagree)

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