People Shot as PS3 Makes Debut

By Robin Mazyck

CBN News

November 17, 2006

CBNNews.com -- It wasn't all fun and games for the people who stood in line for days to get their hands on the new Sony Playstation 3. In fact, for some it was downright dangerous.

A person who had been waiting in line at a Wal-Mart in Putnam, Conn. was shot when two armed men tried to rob the crowd, according to Lt. J. Paul Vance, a spokesman for the state police. The man was taken to the hospital, but there's no word on his condition. Authorities are still looking for the suspects.

In Lexington, K.Y., police were looking into a drive-by shooting at a Best Buy store. Four people waiting in line were injured by BB pellets.

There was a mad dash inside a Wal-Mart in Wisconsin as people hoped to get their hands on only one of 10 units being sold at the store. Craig Westin was in that crowed and was sent to the hospital with head injuries.

"I'm running full-out and next thing I know I'm in the air and my face collides with the pole," he said.

Huge demand and short supply prompted thousands of diehard fans to sleep under tents and on inflatable beds in order to be the first to buy one.

Customers braved freezing temperatures in Fargo, N.D., and they endured heavy rain and winds in Baltimore and other East Coast locales.

Even a pregnant woman experiencing contractions at a store in New Jersey wouldn't leave her place in line.

"I'm going to hold out as long as I can," said Julei Mosley Thursday as she sat on a cooler in the 19th spot outside a Circuit City in Mount Laurel, N.J., joking about giving birth on the sidewalk.

Only 140 units were sent to a Best Buy in Boston. In order to avoid long lines and confusion, tickets were handed out to the first 140 customers.

The new PS3 sells for between $500 and $600 depending on the model, and some are looking to make a profit off their system.

"It's the resale value," said Cisco Serna who was w. "They're going for about $2,000 on eBay, so you pick it up for $600 and sell it at $2000 that's a $1,400 -- not bad at all."

Sony ramped up production and sent weekly shipments to stores in the U.S., but the chance of getting one is still pretty slim.

Sony officials say they'll have 400,000 units in the U.S. by Friday. They will only have one million available before the end of the year.

Watch as excited customers at a Circuit City in Rockville, M.D. buy the new PS3.