Security concerns move UK PS3 launch events

Midnight release parties for Sony system launch canceled at two major Oxford Street stores on advice from the Metropolitan police.

UK gamers wanting to get their hands on a PS3 at midnight on March 23 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 game 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 told GameSpot, "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." He said that 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 7:30 a.m. 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 7 a.m. at the Oxford Street branch, and customers will be given 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 camp-out area from noon on March 21. There will be entertainment and refreshments, "plus a load of surprise events and happenings." The console will then go on sale at the stroke of midnight on the morning of March 23.

Other events will be taking place at midnight regionally 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.

101 Comments

  • ocdog45

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 8:14 pm GMT

    security is always important

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 12:47 am GMT

    Well now that there will only be one major midnight launch, that place might actually fill up. But since the PS3 has very little real demand and can't be sold for much more than retail on Ebay anymore, I doubt theft or shootings would even be a problem. Now with the demand of the Wii, even tho it only costs $250, I think people would steal to get one since the demand is still so ridiculously high and the supply is low. In my store PS3's just sit on the self but I get numerous people asking and calling about the Wii everyday.

    Maybe Sony had a hand in this, trying to make sure at least one place fills up so launch doesn't look so bad in London...

  • theKSMM

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 10:58 pm GMT

    No doubt this move was heavily influenced by the incidents that happened at a few of the midnight launches in the US. Better safe than sorry, I suppose...

  • zsc4

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 10:51 am GMT

    Thats what happens when you make people wait

  • The_Muse

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 8:11 am GMT

    Well when the 360 came out that was still £300 odds worth of kit right there. The Wii was in popular demand. You're trifling over minor things. The point being is that all 3 were worth mugging someone over. The PS3 is no different.

    And what's this hyper and demand you speak of? GAME and HMV haven't been able to meet anywhere near there target. I've got a memo from Curry's saying the same thing.

    The reason they couldn't launch in November is due to those pesky blu-ray laser diodes. This has been widely reported on many sites, including the one you're posting on. Please do some research before you post such opinions.

  • TTDog

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 8:06 am GMT

    "Sony just want to create as much hype as they can. Thats the real reason they delayed it in November."

    As you can still order one now and be guaranteed a console on launch day I'd have to say that it doesn't seem to have had any effect on demand though.

  • razu_gamer

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 7:54 am GMT

    ragingBB is right.

  • RagingBigBoss

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 7:48 am GMT

    The reason Xbox and Wii could get a safe lauch event is that they were nowhere near the price range of the PS3, plus given the hype and demand for PS3 you could imagine its gonna create chaos.

    Sony just want to create as much hype as they can. Thats the real reason they delayed it in November.

  • toxicmog

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 7:31 am GMT

    What Balls.

  • The_Muse

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 7:20 am GMT

    You're all idiots if you think this is the truth. It's pure Sony PR at it's best.

    Sony: "We just can't take any dam pre-orders; nobody wants to buy this thing. We'd better cancel the midnight launch so it doesn't look like a complete disaster."

    Hmm yeah right. So why is this a security issue all of a sudden when the 360 and Wii did it just fine? This is pathetic. Why do you think GAME and HMV are having to bribe there customers to show up and buy one with bacon butties and free games?

    If it can launch at midnight in America, it can launch at midnight here.

    Oh and this is old news by the way.

  • Enthasius

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 7:19 am GMT

    For those wondering how much of a demand there is for the PS3 in the U.K. In one Blockbuster store, they've received 17 pre-orders for them....just from one store.

  • digital_soul

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 7:07 am GMT

    DAMMIT! I was all ready with my new black hoody to go out on a mugging spreee too!

  • Arkinsweets

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 7:06 am GMT

    Ironwulfen wrote:
    ShadoweaverCode - I bet you weren't aware that Brit is a country where casual violence is commonplace, so I find it logical for the police to be concerned about the security. Giving people a reason to beat you up won't help on the situation


    Yeah, I mean, I'm just about to go out and start punching the first guy I see. And look, there's a man mugging a woman right outside my door! Amazing input there mate. 'Course, it's not like this happens in any other country. The US didn't have shootings or thefts did it?

  • andypipkin85

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 6:59 am GMT

    I doubt we will have a repeat of the american PS3 launch incidents. People dont want the PS3 as much over here for a start, plus we dont have such a large gun crime problem but it is true that there are alot of muggins over here so with only that in mind this is a responsible idea.

    But i doubt there will be such a huge frenzy over getting a PS3 over here anyway because people simply dont want them.

  • razu_gamer

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 6:31 am GMT

    @washbrook: shut up, I know how dumb the police in england are.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 6:30 am GMT

    It's good to see that the police care about this launch.

  • Jon-The-God

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 6:18 am GMT

    @razu_gamer "typical, rather than patroling the street, they advice public to be careful. Just typical"

    They ARE on the streets, already covering the other launch events. The police advised this action to avoid being spread too thin.

    Next time, read the post and not just the headlines.

  • Sanguis_Malus

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 5:57 am GMT

    Its hardly surprising, London is definitely getting worse when it comes to violent crime. The amount of young people shot and stabbed to death in Peckham and East London areas this past two months has been shocking ! The Police are failing despite what they say, the Government are useless. Good on the Metropolitan Police for advising this move, its inevitable that some elements of loser scum would have taken advantage of this influx of consumers with money and expensive goods !

    Lets be realistic, that Regis kid was stabbed to death the other day in a broad daylight in Paistow, near six figure homes. That other man was stabbed less than half a mile away in West Ham which is not too far away from where I live. The scum is getting worse and more brazen but its still advisable to be sensible about these issues !

  • razu_gamer

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 5:51 am GMT

    typical, rather than patroling the street, they advice public to be careful. Just typical.

  • ChaosXeno

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 5:36 am GMT

    On a second note Gorilla's of War isnt't that good been there done that. Its called getting caught up in the hype. it happens just as mush as ppl will by the iPhone. HYPE.

  • ChaosXeno

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 5:34 am GMT

    Oh **** people the reviews are guess what( Im going to drop the bomb on you guys at this moment so brace yourself and bite down real hard on something please I don't want you to get hurt)They........are.......just...................people(yes people like everyone else)'s.......opinions. Oh **** heres an idea go play a game and see how its is yourself write a review and see how much ppl give a **** about your thoughts and I mean ppl not online gremlins. ^_^.

  • grognard

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 5:23 am GMT

    US stores could learn something from the Virgin launch event. What a great idea - letting your customers enjoy relative comfort INSIDE the store with refreshments and entertainment rather than camping outside in freezing inclement weather!

  • TheSlanger

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 5:08 am GMT

    Why can't we all just get along?

  • haloj

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 4:17 am GMT

    I had a call from Virgin Megastore confirming that they had a PS3 for me and letting me know that anyone who bought one at the launch party would also be getting a cab home as long as they were within the M25.

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 3:50 am GMT

    We don't need a repeat of what happened in the USA. Plus, if I were getting that console in the middle of the night, in London I would be extra careful. Nothing worse than having something snatched from your hands.

  • rdnapper

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 3:36 am GMT

    A good idea. I think it's inevitable that some people will have Playstations stolen that night having only 1 store open takes the strain off the police. Be careful getting home!

  • m0thr4

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 3:28 am GMT

    Supersaver train ticket to London - £26. Scary-looking balaclava - £20. Mugging some poor sap for his £500 PS3 as he staggers along Oxford Street at 2am - pricele... er, no... completely free.

  • diablo1000000

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 3:26 am GMT

    Surely there are pre-orders still available on Amazon.co.uk? Just go online... it's safe and less hassle than going to Oxford Street!

  • nexus1978b

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 3:23 am GMT

    "Hoodie Xbox owner mugs poor ps3 owners as they leave store†possible news headlines

  • priestkai

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 3:09 am GMT

    Smart move by those stores to protect their customers. It's not like a few hours are going to matter in the long run, and better safe than sorry after the US launch.

  • madmox

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 2:04 am GMT

    There was a time where i could not wait for the ps3, but now WHY? 30 titles release, only 2 or 3 worth playing to show wot this m/c can do.. 6-12 months wait with a price drop or some drop dead gorgous games that i cannot do on my single core (yes single core pc). If i spent £425 on my pc it would become light speed. And then you need a HDTV so all in you need £1500 and thats without games or extra controler..
    Price drop then they can ave my cash

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 12:52 am GMT

    I can never understand why a person would want to wait outside at midnight for a games console. I personally would be so tired that I wouldn't play on the thing until the next day.

  • collum1987

    Posted Mar 21, 2007 12:11 am GMT

    This was what I was worried about when I was going to get my PlayStation 3. But then I couldnt resist the Japanese PS3, a mate of mine also recommended the Japanese PS3 as I have quite a few Japanese PS2 games more than I do of the U.S PS2 and PSone games.

    Thats a good point to make robfield, theres also been recent stabbings in London of teenagers and they've died as of the results of the stab wounds and they're taking that seriously.

    The GAME shop where I live in the UK is opening at 8am, which is a wiser idea as there are **** in my town and I managed to get one of them who kept getting free cash of a mate of mine to f**k right off. Its sad to see that this is the world but we live in but I guess we have to protect ourselves and be very careful not to take risks.

    All that I can say is if anyone in the U.K is getting a PS3, take care of yourselves and I hope you arrive home safely. ^_^

  • TryMe01

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 11:12 pm GMT

    aw, what a shame. now move to another store where the target is now larger...

  • matrixman2k

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 8:26 pm GMT

    As far as I know the Brixton boys will go down to west end where they will meet up with the east end boys for some gang business. It’s all been organised by whoever anyway, they apparently will try to rob a few of those gullible, weak and rich people. Being in the hooded top they should be amongst plenty of people with similar clothing and therefore difficult to trace by the police or cctv. That’s the so-called strategy.

    There’s this guy with a big afro who live down my street and he told me this. I’m not taking him too seriously but then I don’t care what he does – probably will end up in prison soon anyway – is hooked on cannabis probably. Young people and cannabis…

    Unless you have a few friends accompanying, it’s rally brave or stupid to go out that time in the morning to collect the console. After all, one could always collect it during the day particularly if the machine is reserved. It isn’t going anywhere.

    Final word: take care…

  • robfield

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 8:00 pm GMT

    Looks like Europe cares about their people rather than over here in the US where late night mugging is no concern

  • calvins488

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 6:48 pm GMT

    Good idea. Virgin is taking a risk though. I don't live in London but in my town, GAME is having a midnight release, I plan to get a taxi back, lol. Carryong over £435 worth of eqiupment through downtown isn't a good idea around midnight...

  • yukine

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 6:09 pm GMT

    That's a smart way of doing things, at least the police in the UK actually care about the safety of its citizens.

  • FurioustigerGR

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 3:34 pm GMT

    I have been a Sony fan for many years, I bought the XBOX360 at launch day NOV/2005 and that point were very few titles and not good at all, but I was really into next gen consoles, so I decided to buy the XBOX360 and after Sony released the PS3 I would sell it !!
    Now after all these months I don't want to get apart of this console anymore! I am not sure anymore if I should buy a PS3, at least not now!
    I was hopping that Sony would come up with something away better and it is not the case!
    Anyway I still have couple of days to take my decision !

  • fartys

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 3:22 pm GMT

    so tru.....

  • the-very-best

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:56 pm GMT

    Wow, not good for those excited about the event but at least nobody will get hurt this way. Good pre-emptive move.

  • flexx55

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:44 pm GMT

    Game in Sweden opening up at midnight, ready to get mine. But then, we don't have a chav problem here.

  • EMAN2g

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:35 pm GMT

    ..lol

  • sanjt

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:28 pm GMT

    John1059, why don't you make the comparison fair and compare resistance and motorstorm to two of the X360 launch games, hmm? Or you can wait a year and compare PS3 games like Heavenly sword or Lair to Gears.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:21 pm GMT

    JustWiicredible

    Trust me on this they take cell phones too and anything of tech and value the ps3 cost 65000 - 70000 in jamaica so thats damn expensive cell phones are between 20000 - 35000 and when i say phones im talking fancy phones with mp3 3gp and everything else. The ps3 is expensive they are gonna put heavy tax on it plus they have to make a profit. They will kill u for it.' The_Answer_1

    Not going on holiday to jamaica anytime soon!
    -----
    you fool, you've obviously never been to jamaica or anywhere else. a cell phone cost about 20-30 dollars more there then it does here....i know cause i've lived there

  • Autolycus

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:19 pm GMT

    wait a second, dont people have to want to purchase it for there to be demand? ha, i'll be hard pressed to believe this thing even sells out overseas

  • zizaz11

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 2:11 pm GMT

    You suck!!!!! The only good 360 games are GOW and Halo 3!!!! Get a life!!!!!!!!!!

  • derrickkolba

    Posted Mar 20, 2007 1:59 pm GMT

    i dont under stand why anyone would want a ps3 now that there out and people know they suck.

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