Yesterday my editor at Nick Mag told me how there was a story on NY1 about the line of people waiting in front of the Circuit City at Union Square for PlayStation 3s. The reporter at the scene interviewed several of the folks, and of course, was shocked that anyone would be going through such things for a video game system. The report also mentioned how the management of Circuit City was not at all happy with these folks, and even said something to the effect that they simply didn’t care that they had been waiting in line for days for the system, and would even flat out refuse to acknowledge them come sale time. I believe it was also mentioned that they were going to try and have the line removed or eliminated, but since they’re all waiting outside on the street, both my editor and I wondered if that was at all feasible since the street is public property after-all.
Anyway, on the way to meet up with MK for dinner yesterday evening, I ended up at the Union Square subway station, which is right near the aforementioned Circuit City, so I decided to check out the scene first hand. As expected, there were about a dozen of so folks, mostly sitting in folding chairs, and on the street, right across from the store. I would imagine that at one point, they were probably nested right next to building but were told to move, so they did, at least just enough. There was also a cop keeping an eye on everything, so I decided to ask him a few questions…
I discovered that it was basically going to be his duty, as well as for a few other officers, to keep an eye out on the line as long as needed. I asked if other cops were stationed elsewhere in the city for a similar purpose, and he couldn’t say, though since it was an official command, one would have to assume so. I enquired about Circuit City’s desire to have the line just go away, and he basically said that, so long as everyone in the line remains civil and not act unruly, they can stay where they are. I got the definite sense that this was all a big waste of time and resources, and he’s basically correct. Too bad it?s a unfortunate necessity.
Next I asked what he personally thought about the people waiting in line, and the whole idea of sitting out in cold, for days, all just for a video game system, and he said it was pretty silly, but also mentioned that if he was younger and was into video games, maybe he might be excited enough to do such a thing. But when I mentioned that pretty much everyone in the line were going to simply sell the systems on eBay as soon as they go it, his response was: “Oh, so they’re scumbags!”
On a side note, when I told MK during dinner that I’ll be attending Sony’s official PS3 launch event, which is later tonight, she simply replied with “Please don’t get killed.” But yeah… tonight’s the night, the damn thing finally comes out at the stroke of midnight. And I’m eager to find out, first hand, if chaos will indeed unsue.
Though its not just the PS3 that’s making folks go rabid with anticipation; people are also gearing for the Wii as well. 1UP has been running special features all week, and some have been… not so hot to be honest, but his one is pretty decent, if a bit a stupid. It’s by Scott Sharkey whom I’ve been a fan of for years, plus this picture is kinda funny, in a retarded sort of way:
