Customers Beating a Path (and Each Other) to Get New Gaming Consoles

In Wisconsin, customers stampeded into a West Bend store injuring one man, Brian Weston, as he was pushed into a pole (video footage).

Authorities shut down a Wal-Mart in Palmdale, California due to rowdy crowds.

Four people waiting outside a Best Buy in Lexington, KY were hit with BB pellets in a "drive by" shooting.

Police fired a paintball into an unruly crowd of 350 people outside of a Target store in Henrico, VA.

In Vacaville, CA, fortunate customers that were able to purchase PS3's were escorted by local police to their cars.

For those that don't know, the Sony Playstation 3 is a high end gaming system providing "breathtaking new interactive worlds to explore, eye-popping multimedia functionality, and a fully integrated online experience - all in high-definition clarity", according to Sony.

There are currently two PS3 models available. One features a 20-GB hard disk drive (HDD) and carries a suggested retail price of $499, while the second features a 60-GB HDD and built in Wi-Fi adapter and multiple memory card slots for $599.

A current search on the ever popular Ebay shows the "buy it now" price for the 20-GB system at around $2500 and 60-GB system at $3000.00.

Why is this happening?? Is having the PS3 that important? Well, yes and no. It depends on who you ask. If you ask a hard core gamer, the answer is yes. If you ask some entrepreneurial types that are taking advantage of the craze, buying now and hijacking the price to some astronomical sum and reselling to one of the many poor souls unable to stand in line for hours to get one at the suggested retail price, the answer is not just yes but absolutely! If you ask just about anyone else, the answer is a polite "no, I'll wait".

Supply and demand does have something to do with it. Sony Computer Entertainment America promised 400,000 machines in the United States for Friday's launch and about 1 million by year's end, which is about half its original projections.

There are only a select few stores that sell the PS3. Circuit City is one such store. Looking online for the PS3, it states that it is "sold out" and also says "manufacturer shortages have decreased supply".

The solution is for retailers to receive new PlayStations daily - expedited by plane rather than ships, according to Jack Tretton, Sony's executive vice president. In this manner, stores will continually be receiving PS3s to satisfy the demand.

Will they come in time for Christmas? Many customers are buying them as gifts for children and teens. This is a question yet to be answered, as Sony struggles to increase production of the system.

Regardless as to the "breathtaking experience" or being able to say you are one of the first to own the coveted PS3, the mayhem and the violence doesn't seem worth the price.

I think I'll stick to ordering mine online. Whenever they are back in stock, of course.