UK PS3 launch events delayed for security - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

BGonaSTICK · 22-03-07, 05:51 PM

UK gamers wanting to get their hands on a PlayStation 3 at midnight on Friday 23 March in London just lost a few options. While the official launch event at the Oxford Street Virgin Megastore is still on, the two other big games stores Game and HMV on the famed shopping street have decided not to open at midnight after police expressed security concerns.

A spokesperson for HMV said, "We want to launch the product in a responsible way, and after speaking with Westminster council and police, we decided an early-morning launch would be the best thing to do."

The spokesman explained the authorities had advised that it would be too difficult to police three simultaneous events, and because of the high cost of the console, were worried about muggings and theft of customers leaving the stores in the early hours of the morning.

"The general consensus was that people coming out of the store at one or two in the morning with £500 worth of kit... they felt was just going to be just asking for trouble," the HMV spokesperson said. "And that three stores opening at that time would just make it too opportunistic."

HMV's Oxford Street event will start at 7:30am and will be run in conjunction with Sega. The first 150 people in line will get a free copy of Virtua Tennis 3 with their PS3s.

Game's event will start at 7am at the Oxford Street branch, and customers will be given a breakfast of bacon butties, coffee and pastries. There will also be goody-bag giveaways. A statement from Game said, "This will guarantee gamers have access to public transport so they can easily and safely transport their consoles home in daylight."

On its launch last year in the US, a string of crimes marred the launch of Sony's latest console, including shootings and thefts.

The official Sony launch event at the Virgin Megastore will still be going ahead as planned. Virgin will be opening its basement as a camping area from noon on 21 March. There will be entertainment and refreshments, "plus a load of surprise events and happenings", according to the store. The console will then go on sale at the stroke of midnight on the morning of 23 March.

Other events will be taking place at midnight across the country, including at over 200 GameStation stores. GameStation shops will feature mysteriously titled PS3 'concept zones' where gamers can play the new console. Game and GameStation advise checking with local stores to see what each has planned for the launch.

SAT-WORLD · 24-03-07, 04:21 PM

Lucky so and so's

, that got a free 42" HDTV with their PS3.

Had I known,I'd packed my tea mug and sleeping bag,and park out at least 3 days,before the launch.

22-03-07, 05:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 163 Times in 57 Posts	UK PS3 launch events delayed for security UK gamers wanting to get their hands on a PlayStation 3 at midnight on Friday 23 March in London just lost a few options. While the official launch event at the Oxford Street Virgin Megastore is still on, the two other big games stores Game and HMV on the famed shopping street have decided not to open at midnight after police expressed security concerns. A spokesperson for HMV said, "We want to launch the product in a responsible way, and after speaking with Westminster council and police, we decided an early-morning launch would be the best thing to do." The spokesman explained the authorities had advised that it would be too difficult to police three simultaneous events, and because of the high cost of the console, were worried about muggings and theft of customers leaving the stores in the early hours of the morning. "The general consensus was that people coming out of the store at one or two in the morning with £500 worth of kit... they felt was just going to be just asking for trouble," the HMV spokesperson said. "And that three stores opening at that time would just make it too opportunistic." HMV's Oxford Street event will start at 7:30am and will be run in conjunction with Sega. The first 150 people in line will get a free copy of Virtua Tennis 3 with their PS3s. Game's event will start at 7am at the Oxford Street branch, and customers will be given a breakfast of bacon butties, coffee and pastries. There will also be goody-bag giveaways. A statement from Game said, "This will guarantee gamers have access to public transport so they can easily and safely transport their consoles home in daylight." On its launch last year in the US, a string of crimes marred the launch of Sony's latest console, including shootings and thefts. The official Sony launch event at the Virgin Megastore will still be going ahead as planned. Virgin will be opening its basement as a camping area from noon on 21 March. There will be entertainment and refreshments, "plus a load of surprise events and happenings", according to the store. The console will then go on sale at the stroke of midnight on the morning of 23 March. Other events will be taking place at midnight across the country, including at over 200 GameStation stores. GameStation shops will feature mysteriously titled PS3 'concept zones' where gamers can play the new console. Game and GameStation advise checking with local stores to see what each has planned for the launch. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

24-03-07, 04:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
SAT-WORLD Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,656 Thanks: 19 Thanked 246 Times in 215 Posts	Re: UK PS3 launch events delayed for security Lucky so and so's , that got a free 42" HDTV with their PS3. Had I known,I'd packed my tea mug and sleeping bag,and park out at least 3 days,before the launch.