GAME reports phenomenal demand for PlayStation 3. UPDATED

GAME reports "phenomenal" demand for PlayStation 3

Ellie Gibson 15:46 (GMT) 20/03/2007

Praises Sony's console for having more functionality

GAME marketing director Anna Marcario has told GamesIndustry.biz that PlayStation 3 has more functionality than any other console on the market - a factor which is helping to create huge demand.

"The customer reaction to the arrival of the Sony PlayStation 3 really has been nothing short of phenomenal," she said.

"With a huge range of titles available for launch and having so much more functionality than any other games console, our customers can't wait to get their hands on this incredible machine."

Marcario's comments came after GAME announced that it will no longer be holding a midnight PS3 launch event at its Oxford Street store, following police concerns about the safety of shoppers.

After consulting with the police, GAME has decided to open the store at 7am instead - but only for the first 150 gamers who pre-ordered PlayStation 3 units. They will be given breakfast and PS3 goodie bags. The store will be open to all customers from 9am onwards.

Earlier this week, high street retailer HMV also announced that it would be opening in the early morning rather than at midnight as previously planned. However Sony's official launch partner, Virgin Megastore, will be hosting a midnight event.

UPDATE!

Virgin invites PS3 buyers to camp out in-store

Plans for the official UK launch of PlayStation 3 have been announced, revealing that customers will be able to camp out in Oxford Street's Virgin Megastore from 12 noon tomorrow.

According to a statement, the lower ground floor of the store "will be turned into a 'campsite' to ensure fans stay comfortable and safe". Entertainment, refreshments and "surprise events" are promised, and the first customers to arrive will receive official PlayStation merchandise.

Customers are invited to camp out in the store from midday tomorrow - with the first PS3 units set to go on sale at midnight on Friday March 23.

It appears that Virgin will be the only Oxford Street store to host a midnight launch event for the console. Both HMV and GAME have opted to host early morning events instead - although some regional branches will still be opening at midnight.

alright fanboy damage control time

alright fanboy damage control time

SuperKnightX

Europeans just LOVE the PS3 especially us UK gamers 8)

w3rd. we'll see when the sales begin! are people camping out yet? will they allow that?Dreams-Visions

[QUOTE="Dreams-Visions"]w3rd. we'll see when the sales begin! are people camping out yet? will they allow that?danabo

w3rd. we'll see when the sales begin! are people camping out yet? will they allow that?Dreams-Visions

[QUOTE="danabo"][QUOTE="Dreams-Visions"]w3rd. we'll see when the sales begin! are people camping out yet? will they allow that?Dreams-Visions

The fanboys will make their purchases, and then once the pent up demand is satisfied sales will plummet.thinicer

[QUOTE="thinicer"]The fanboys will make their purchases, and then once the pent up demand is satisfied sales will plummet.danabo

You're welcome. Glad to be of assistance!

Huh... That's interesting, because a week ago, I was hearing things like this:

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/03/14/european-store-game-says-only-two-thirds-of-preorders-filled/

So the same store last week, which supposedly only filled 2/3 of the pre-orders, is now having phenominal demand? I suppose it's possible. I just wonder which story is true and which story is false. Guess we'll all find out soon enough.

[QUOTE="thinicer"]The fanboys will make their purchases, and then once the pent up demand is satisfied sales will plummet.danabo

Looking at North America and Japan, he's probably right.

GAME reports "phenomenal" demand for PlayStation 3

Ellie Gibson 15:46 (GMT) 20/03/2007

Praises Sony's console for having more functionality

GAME marketing director Anna Marcario has told GamesIndustry.biz that PlayStation 3 has more functionality than any other console on the market - a factor which is helping to create huge demand.

"The customer reaction to the arrival of the Sony PlayStation 3 really has been nothing short of phenomenal," she said.

"With a huge range of titles available for launch and having so much more functionality than any other games console, our customers can't wait to get their hands on this incredible machine."

Marcario's comments came after GAME announced that it will no longer be holding a midnight PS3 launch event at its Oxford Street store, following police concerns about the safety of shoppers.

After consulting with the police, GAME has decided to open the store at 7am instead - but only for the first 150 gamers who pre-ordered PlayStation 3 units. They will be given breakfast and PS3 goodie bags. The store will be open to all customers from 9am onwards.

Earlier this week, high street retailer HMV also announced that it would be opening in the early morning rather than at midnight as previously planned. However Sony's official launch partner, Virgin Megastore, will be hosting a midnight event.

 

UPDATE!

Virgin invites PS3 buyers to camp out in-store

Plans for the official UK launch of PlayStation 3 have been announced, revealing that customers will be able to camp out in Oxford Street's Virgin Megastore from 12 noon tomorrow.

According to a statement, the lower ground floor of the store "will be turned into a 'campsite' to ensure fans stay comfortable and safe". Entertainment, refreshments and "surprise events" are promised, and the first customers to arrive will receive official PlayStation merchandise.

Customers are invited to camp out in the store from midday tomorrow - with the first PS3 units set to go on sale at midnight on Friday March 23.

It appears that Virgin will be the only Oxford Street store to host a midnight launch event for the console. Both HMV and GAME have opted to host early morning events instead - although some regional branches will still be opening at midnight.

 

danabo

[QUOTE="danabo"][QUOTE="thinicer"]The fanboys will make their purchases, and then once the pent up demand is satisfied sales will plummet.thirstychainsaw

Looking at North America and Japan, he's probably right.

Europeans just LOVE the PS3 especially us UK gamers 8)

AB_Uppercut

[QUOTE="AB_Uppercut"]

Europeans just LOVE the PS3 especially us UK gamers 8)

rhaigun

Huh... That's interesting, because a week ago, I was hearing things like this:

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/03/14/european-store-game-says-only-two-thirds-of-preorders-filled/

So the same store last week, which supposedly only filled 2/3 of the pre-orders, is now having phenominal demand? I suppose it's possible. I just wonder which story is true and which story is false. Guess we'll all find out soon enough.

 

y2kzorak

The fanboys will make their purchases, and then once the pent up demand is satisfied sales will plummet.thinicer

You referring to the WII sales in japan?

[QUOTE="y2kzorak"]

Huh... That's interesting, because a week ago, I was hearing things like this:

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/03/14/european-store-game-says-only-two-thirds-of-preorders-filled/

So the same store last week, which supposedly only filled 2/3 of the pre-orders, is now having phenominal demand? I suppose it's possible. I just wonder which story is true and which story is false. Guess we'll all find out soon enough.

 

Ad_bad

Huh... That's interesting, because a week ago, I was hearing things like this:

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/03/14/european-store-game-says-only-two-thirds-of-preorders-filled/

So the same store last week, which supposedly only filled 2/3 of the pre-orders, is now having phenominal demand? I suppose it's possible. I just wonder which story is true and which story is false. Guess we'll all find out soon enough.

 

y2kzorak

Hmm launching a with a million, There has to be **** loads of PS3's available. TRUST me 2/3 of preordered is alot.

Different strokes for different folks. We'll only see how the PS3 actually sells when it's released over here. The UK market is completely different to the French market, which is different to the German market etc. Guesswork by using American and Japanese sales is just that, guesswork.danabo

It's an educated guess that I can easily make based on sales in Japan, where the PS3 is the cheapest, and sales in the US where the PS3 is lagging behind the 360 and Wii. Sony dominated both markets with their PS2 but those markets haven't exactly embraced the PS3 fever.

There is nothing unique about Europeans that will make them buy the PS3 in large numbers for the next several months. Europeans do not have the same kind of disposable income as Americans do, and the PS3 is more expensive there than anywhere else.

Europeans are not immune to the effects of price elasticity - they follow it just as much as all the other peoples in the world.

Fact of the matter is, I can go to www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.fr, and www.amazon.de and preorder a PS3 for myself right now. If Europe truly wants the PS3, the preorder allotments would have easily sold out by now.

I think that sales will be strong this month and next, but in May you're going to see a big plummet in demand and sales will stall.

Too bad we don't get sales information on Europe updated regularly, except for the UK.

Nice.

Europe will be the start of a long run of good news for Sony.

From the massive sales in Europe to KZ in July matching its trailer, it will be very interesting to see what happens in sales worldwide Christmas 2007.

Quick hide before the lemmings come in.tonythestudent

Nice.

Europe will be the start of a long run of good news for Sony.

From the massive sales in Europe to KZ in July matching its trailer, it will be very interesting to see what happens in sales worldwide Christmas 2007.

the-very-best

Wow. 

[QUOTE="danabo"]Different strokes for different folks. We'll only see how the PS3 actually sells when it's released over here. The UK market is completely different to the French market, which is different to the German market etc. Guesswork by using American and Japanese sales is just that, guesswork.thinicer

It's an educated guess that I can easily make based on sales in Japan, where the PS3 is the cheapest, and sales in the US where the PS3 is lagging behind the 360 and Wii. Sony dominated both markets with their PS2 but those markets haven't exactly embraced the PS3 fever.

There is nothing unique about Europeans that will make them buy the PS3 in large numbers for the next several months. Europeans do not have the same kind of disposable income as Americans do, and the PS3 is more expensive there than anywhere else.

Europeans are not immune to the effects of price elasticity - they follow it just as much as all the other peoples in the world.

Fact of the matter is, I can go to www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.fr, and www.amazon.de and preorder a PS3 for myself right now. If Europe truly wants the PS3, the preorder allotments would have easily sold out by now.

I think that sales will be strong this month and next, but in May you're going to see a big plummet in demand and sales will stall.

Too bad we don't get sales information on Europe updated regularly, except for the UK.

[QUOTE="tonythestudent"]Quick hide before the lemmings come in.Koalakommander

We do buy basically the same products but there are certain products that sell well in Europe that don't in America or Japan. As for consoles we can look at the SNES/Mega Drive days where the Mega Drive ruled Europe, yet the SNES was the most popular worldwide. The same goes for the Master System here in the UK.danabo

All those consoles you mentioned were not the more expensive alternatives like the PS3 is, and the PS3 is not just 50 pounds more - it's 150 pounds more expensive. For the rest of Europe it's 200 euros more expensive. The price disparity is going to scare off a lot of potential buyers, a disparity that did not exist with those systems you mentioned.